Two women and four dogs were saved from a Thanksgiving Day fire in Belleville, but a cat remains missing.

Belleville Fire Battalion Chief Randy Schield said the fire started in an enclosed front porch and caused severe damage to the outside and heavy smoke damage inside.

"The building is close to being a total loss," Schield said. "It was two elderly women. Some passers-by saw it and were beating on their door and got them out."

Firefighters responded at 11:38 a.m. to a home in the 900 block of South High Street.

The Belleville Fire Investigation Unit is investigating the cause of the fire.

The American Red Cross made arrangements for shelter, Schield said.

"I was also happy that there were some people from St. Paul's church that came by," Schield said. "They were out delivering meals in the area and offered some of the meals they were delivering to the women because they had nowhere to go for Thanksgiving."