A man helped rescue an elderly woman and at least two of the dogs from her burning home Tuesday, while firefighters battled flames and frigid temperatures.

The man, who asked to remain anonymous, told The News Courier he was heading to the neighborhood near Overcreek Drive in eastern Limestone County, when he noticed there was too much smoke coming from a home’s chimney.

By the time he stopped at the home, knocked on the door and the woman answered, the fire was already taking over the home. The woman, who used a walker, and two of her four dogs were able to escape from the home.

Firefighters believe the chimney sparked the fire, but it will be up to officials to determine that, said East Limestone Fire Chief Joey Boyd.

“Everything but the garage was a total loss,” he said.

Flames were 50 percent through the roof when firefighters arrived, making it an uphill battle to try to save the home.

“We did all we could, but the roof had already vented itself (burned through),” Boyd said.

How many dogs survived the fire was unclear.

The man who helped the woman said two of the woman’s four dogs were saved.

Boyd said there were two dogs in the backyard and supposedly one inside the home, though firefighters found no evidence of a dog there.

Fire and ice

Firefighters not only had to battle the blaze, but they also had to cope with the water from their hoses freezing on asphalt and concrete at the scene, Boyd said.

Seven or eight East firefighters responded, along with three firefighters from Segers Volunteer Fire Department and three firefighters from Huntsville Fire & Rescue, he said. They stayed on the scene until about 2 p.m.

The North Alabama American Red Cross is assisting the woman, Boyd said.

– Reporter Jessica Barnett contributed to this report.