CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Charlotte firefighters battled three fires early Friday morning.

One fire broke out at about 1:30 a.m. Friday on Royston Road in west Charlotte, off Camp Greene Street and Freedom Drive. Three people lived in the home, along with their pets. One woman was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation, and firefighters said one dog and three cats died in the fire. Firefighters said they rescued several other pets from the home.

The Red Cross helped them find another place to stay for the rest of the night.

Another fire broke out at an empty home at about 3 a.m. Friday. Charlotte Mecklenburg police had to shut down Sugar Creek Road near W.T. Harris Boulevard for a couple of hours while firefighters put out the blaze.

Firefighters were also called to a burning apartment on Seigle Avenue and 18th Street at about 3:45 a.m. Friday. They said they were checking out a fire alarm nearby, in Charlotte’s Belmont neighborhood, when they smelled smoke.

Firefighters said that fire broke out on the second floor of the building, but all the apartments appeared to be empty.

Investigators said they are investigating the cause of all three fires.