THOMASVILLE — A house fire in which 40 cats died was an accident, a Thomasville Fire/Rescue official said Friday.

The fire at the 101 Royal Ave. residence of Regina Duggar was discovered Friday, July 28, about 5:15 p.m  by a neighbor, a firefighter out walking his dog.

The felines died from smoke inhalation. Four cats in the garage survived.

The blaze was confined to the kitchen, with smoke and heat damage in the remainder of the house.

“It was a fluke accident,”  said Tim Connell, Thomasville Fire/Rescue chief fire marshal. “The stove got turned on somehow.”

Duggar, office manager at Miss Kitty Feline Sanctuary and Adoption Center, did not use her stove. She bought groceries during lunch Friday, left some bags of non-perishable items on top of the glass-top stove and returned to work at 2 p.m.

No one will ever know how the stove was turned on, Connell said.

Duggar fosters orphan cats, kittens left at Miss Kitty with no mother, and accepts cats whose owners die or become sick and can no longer care for them.

Staying with friends since the fire, Duggar is inventorying her household goods for a report to the insurance company. 

“The adjusters told her that it would be at least six months before the house would be habitable,” said Carol Jones, a Duggar friend. “Her friends have and continue to shower her with support. “

Jones, Miss Kitty board chairman and co-worker of Duggar’s, said local and online funds have been set up to help Duggar “bridge the gap” between now and when her insurance funding begins.

An account for Duggar has been set up at Commercial Bank, or donations can be made online at YouCaring.com. Search for: Help Regina after her house fire.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820