WEST FORSYTH — A fast moving fire destroyed a large home Friday afternoon in far western Forsyth County, though authorities hope many of the family’s possessions may be salvageable.

The fire, which was reported at 2:54 p.m. on Preserve Crossing Lane, off of Drew Campground Road, was burning through the roof when firefighters arrived, according to Forsyth Fire Division Chief Jason Shivers.

Firefighters were able to save a vehicle by moving it out of the garage, and initially thought that the family dog had died. But after bringing the fire under control, they searched the home and found the dog alive, according to Shivers.

“They administered oxygen and were able to revive the animal enough for the family to take it to a veterinarian,” he said, adding that it’s too early to know whether the dog will survive.

The department sent five engines and two ladder trucks to the blaze, and Cherokee County sent one engine to assist. The subdivision is about a mile from the Cherokee line.

While the cause of the fire remains under investigation, Battalion Chief Tony Chapman said lightning may have been a factor, as there was a strong storm moving through the area at the time.