AHOSKIE – An electrical problem appears to be the cause of a residential fire near here late Sunday afternoon that left a local family homeless.

Personnel from three fire departments were summoned to 116 Magnolia Road, located off Hall Siding Road, at around 4:50 p.m.

Ahoskie Rural Assistant Fire Chief Nathan Pierce said flames and heavy smoke were showing from the residence upon the arrival of the firefighters.

“We immediately made the decision to request mutual aid from the Winton Fire Department,” Pierce stated. “We needed the extra tankers from Winton to help haul water to the fire, given the fact that the burning home was flanked by other homes in that neighborhood as well as a wooded area.

“We were able to knock down the fire fairly quickly,” he added.

All totaled, Ahoskie (Stations 1 and 2) sent 19 firefighters and four units to the blaze. They remained on the scene for approximately three hours.

While there were no human injuries, the fire did claim a family pet that was trapped inside the burning home.

“The family (identified only as the Robertsons) were not at home when the fire broke out….they were at a neighbor’s home,” Pierce said.

The home was a total loss, Pierce reported.

“The family lost everything they had except the clothes on their backs. They were advised of the assistance provided by the American Red Cross in times like these,” Pierce said, adding that the fire victims were reportedly staying with other family members at the present time.