Fourteen dogs have died in a northeast Kansas house fire that their owner narrowly escaped.

Kevin Matthews awoke Tuesday morning to smoke filling his room. He broke through a bedroom window of his home near the Douglas County town of Baldwin and jumped out.

Matthews says he then flagged down a driver, who helped him call 911. The fire was under control within an hour, but the house is considered a total loss. Willow Springs Fire Department Assistant Chief Clint Hornberger says the cause appears to be accidental.

Matthews says nine adult dogs and five puppies died in the fire. Several of the dogs were personal pets. He says he had rescued others and was working to find people to adopt them.

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Associated Press information from: Lawrence Journal-World