FARMINGTON – Wearing only pants and socks, Ben Cummings screamed for firefighters to help his dog as flames destroyed his home Monday.

Firefighters were unable to reach the dog trapped on the second floor, and it died in the blaze.

Cummings, his brother, John Cummings, and their aunt, Nancy Cummings, escaped the 12:15 p.m. fire at 185 Maple Ave. A couple of tenants living in a barn apartment also escaped and took shelter in a neighboring mobile home.

Cummings was restrained from going back for his husky by Farmington Police Officer Michael Adcock and firefighters who were first to arrive on the scene.

“The whole side of the house was fully engulfed when I arrived,” Adcock said.

Neighbors rushed to find blankets and a sweatshirt to help protect Cummings from the frigid, 12-degree air. He stood in his socks on the frozen and partially snow-covered yard watching for his dog as Farmington Fire Chief Terry Bell worked to make sure all people were out of the house.

“We could see the dog in the upstairs window,” said neighbor Jen Galouch when she first saw the fire and ran out to help Cummings’ aunt.

Ben and John Cummings and tenant Chaney Tubman, who is pregnant, were taken to Franklin Memorial Hospital for smoke inhalation, said Deputy Chief Clyde Ross of the Farmington Fire Department. A hospital spokesman said later they were all treated and released.

Ross said firefighters believed the fire was caused by casually discarded smoking materials.

“The Cummings’ kept smelling something burning and discovered a mattress on fire,” Ross said. “They tried to get it out the door but evidently, it got too hot and they left it in the doorway and fled.” Soon, the whole front of the house was engulfed, he said.

Five members of the State Fire Marshal’s Office responded to help with the investigation. The fire marshal was called in because of the personal injury, he said.

“With smoke inhalation, you don’t know how people will respond,” Ross said.

The main part of the older house was destroyed and Ross estimated damage to the building and its contents to be at least, $50,000. The barn apartment was not damaged.

Heavy smoke poured from the house while 25 firefighters from Wilton, Jay, Temple, New Sharon and Chesterville helped the 17 members of Farmington Fire and Rescue.

The American Red Cross was called in to assist those left homeless.