Two homes caught on fire Saturday morning in North Portland after a BBQ fire in one house’s backyard spread to the house before also spreading to the house next door.

The fire broke out around 4:41 a.m. in the Humboldt neighborhood, Portland Fire & Rescue said in a statement on Saturday. When 911 dispatchers first received the call, the caller only reported a BBQ fire — but as firefighters were en route, the caller said the fire had spread to the house, and another person called saying it was spreading to the neighbor’s house as well, officials said.

Quick work by firefighters limited the fire’s spread in the second house, but the fire in the first house was large enough to prompt a call for a second alarm, bringing the total number of firefighters to 52.

Firefighters were able to account for all the residents in both houses, but two pets in the first house were found dead from smoke inhalation, officials say.

Around 5:30 a.m. firefighters had put both fires out; investigators have ruled the fire an accident but the specific cause is still under investigation.

— Tatum Todd covers crime and public safety. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com, or 503-221-4313.