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Officials: Teen Woken By Pit Bull Before Escaping House Fire

MUSKEGON, Mich. (AP) - Fire officials say a teenager was woken up by his pit bull shortly before escaping an early-morning house fire in Muskegon.

Muskegon Fire Department Battalion Chief Brad Vanderberg says the teenager told firefighters that his dog woke him up and they got out of the house shortly before 1 a.m. Saturday.

Fire Marshal Major Metcalf tells The Muskegon Chronicle that the house is "pretty much totaled."

The teenager told responders that the fire was started by candles and that he tried to put it out. Metcalf says he hasn't ruled out candles as a cause, and that the house hadn't had electricity for about three weeks.

The house's owner, who is related to the teen, was in the process of selling it.

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