GASTON COUNTY, N.C. -- A Gaston County family lost their home when a space heater sparked a fire that consumed the house Tuesday morning.

Also lost in the blaze were Christmas toys that were donated to the family a few days ago.

The fire came at the worst time for Michael Harris. He is a construction worker who hasn’t worked in six months because of the economy.

The family was staying with Harris’ grandfather, who suffers from a broken hip.

Harris, his wife and two of the family’s four children were away from home, looking for a parking space at social services to try and get some help when Harris’ cell phone rang.

“My wife got the call. She was pretty hysterical, so we rushed home,” he said.

By the time they got home, there was little left. Investigators said a space heater left too close to a bed started the fire.

Chief Steve Wilkinson, of the Ag Center Volunteer Fire Department, said, “It was coming out of all the windows. By the time I did a walkaround and came back it had broken through the roof.”

The roof fell in on three firemen. They were not hurt.

The Christmas toys destroyed in the fire had been received from a charity. The family is not sure how they will recover now.