The blaze broke out around 5:35 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24, at a home in the 6000 block of Hunters Mill Drive in Salisbury, where family members discovered the fire and alerted authorities.
By the time firefighters got the flames under control, the home's attached garage had been gutted, leaving behind a charred shell and extensive damage to the property.
Investigators with the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office determined that the fire started in the garage and classified the cause as incendiary, meaning it was deliberately set.
Approximately 40 firefighters responded to the scene, spending about 30 minutes battling the blaze before bringing it under control.
The fire caused an estimated $150,000 in structural damage and destroyed or damaged another $25,000 worth of belongings, forcing two residents from their home.
But amid the wreckage came an unexpected discovery.
Five cats had been inside the house when the fire broke out, and all five were found alive after the flames were extinguished.
No injuries were reported.
The State Fire Marshal's Office has not announced any arrests or identified a suspect in connection with the suspected arson.
For the displaced residents, the damage will take time to repair. Their five cats, however, survived a fire that could have ended much differently.
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