An early morning fire in Gravenhurst has claimed the life of a woman and her pets.

Emergency crews were called to North Street on Wednesday, at around 7 a.m. for a reported house fire.

Provincial police were the first to arrive and found a woman near the living room.

Officers pulled her out of the building, but she was later pronounced dead at the scene. Four pets also died.

She has been identified as 48-year-old April Doubleday.

“When the officers arrived, they did their best along with the paramedics to try and get her out, every effort was made,” says Const. Samantha Bigley.

Bill Grixit lives nearby and says he's known Doubleday for years. He's still struggling to comprehend the news.

“It still hasn't hit home yet. My whole family, we're sad.”

The Ontario Fire Marshal’s Office believes the fire started in the living room, but an exact cause has not been determined. 

It’s unclear how long the investigation is going to take.