A fire that broke out in John and Marie Gibbon’s south Lawrence house Tuesday afternoon did more than just cause damage. It killed a longtime friend.

An Amazon parrot that Marie Gibbon said she’d had for 20 years was killed in the smoky fire.

Jeaneen Hercha, who works for the Lawrence Humane Society, carries George to her car after he was rescued from the home by Lawrence Police Officer Trent McKinley.

“I hope it went fast,” Marie Gibbon said of her parrot. “She could talk, she could laugh, she could do everything.”

Marie Gibbon was distraught because smoke from the fire killed several finches and various other birds, she said. But another pet, a dog named George, was saved.

Lawrence Police officer Trent McKinley carried out the unconscious dog, neighbors said. George was taken to the Lawrence Humane Society.

Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical responded at 2:57 p.m. to what became a two-alarm fire at 1124 W. 27th St. The Gibbons were not home when the fire was reported.

Firefighters found flames and smoke in the kitchen, attic and roof areas, Fire & Medical Chief Jim McSwain said.

Tony Denton, who lives across the street, said he looked over after the first fire truck arrived.

“There were flames up on the roof,” Denton said. “It (flames) kept coming out and billowing up over the roof. This is something I’ve always worried about.”

6News video: Fire damages home, injures, kills pets

Marie Gibbon arrived at her home along with a daughter and grandchildren shortly after firefighters had the fire under control. She said her husband, a tour bus driver, was out of town. They had moved into the house only a few weeks ago, she said.

“I was just trying to get things put away and get ready for Christmas,” Marie Gibbon said.

Though the Gibbons have insurance and relatives to stay with, the Douglas County chapter of the American Red Cross was meeting with Marie Gibbon to assess the family’s needs, Red Cross director Jane Blocher said.

The cause of the fire was under investigation, but it was not considered suspicious, McSwain said. A damage estimate wasn’t available.

Smoke and steam rise from a home at 1124 W. 27th St. as a Lawrence-Douglas County Fire & Medical worker leaves the scene. A pet parrot and other birds died in the blaze.