A woman and at least seven animals were rescued from a fire that started in the kitchen of her house at 1919 S. Crenshaw St.

Jeanette Hayes, 67, was unconscious when firefighters found her in a hallway about five or six feet from the front door, said Capt. Darrin Hughes of the Visalia Fire Department. She was taken to Kaweah Delta Hospital and treated for smoke inhalation and burns. Hughes said she would stay at the hospital for observation.

Oxygen was administered to two small dogs and one other cat, and another cat ran back inside the house. Two cats were hiding in the house but appeared to be fine, Hughes said.

The animals were taken to the Valley Oak Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals by an animal control officer.

Chairs, a broken refrigerator and other items filled the woman's garage from top to bottom — and Battalion Chief Doyle Sewell said the scene wasn't much different inside the house. This, along with metal bars on the front door, made it more difficult for the woman to escape the smoke and flames. It also made it hard for firefighters to reach her, he said.

Police first arrived on the scene after Hayes called 9-1-1, Hughes said. She later told him that the fire started when she had been cooking soup on her stovetop, and had taken it off the burner and left the kitchen. When she came back, a fire had started, which she tried to put out with her fire extinguisher.

She then called 9-1-1 and went back into the kitchen to get some keys.

When she attempted to get out the front door, she slipped and fell in the hallway, where she was later found unconscious, Hughes said.

The Visalia Fire Department was called at 1:42 p.m. and three engines, one truck and a battalion chief — a total of 13 fire personnel — arrived at the scene at 1:47 p.m.

He said two police officers attempted to put out the fire with extinguishers from their patrol units, but it wasn't enough.

"They could hear the lady inside," Sewell said.

Both police officers were taken to Kaweah Delta Hospital and checked for smoke inhalation, and both were released, Hughes said.

Neighbors crowded the walkways near the residence and watched as Hayes was brought out on a gurney from the back of the house, and as her pets were carried out the front door.

"When I got here, flames were coming out of the kitchen window," said Scott Hampton, who lives a few houses down from the victim. "When we got down here, she was yelling out the window for help."

Hampton said the woman was a known recluse, and tended to hoard — evident by the stacks of things in her garage.

Another neighbor, Angela Sims, said she would visit the victim's house periodically because Hayes has no relatives in the area. Sims confirmed that Hayes' house was not clean and was full of items she collected.

Sewell said the unclean condition of the house will be reported to Tulare County Health and Human Services.