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‘Improperly discarded smoking material' starts fire; $27K damage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — “Improperly discarded smoking material” caused a house fire to erupt Saturday afternoon in Steele Creek, Charlotte Fire Department officials tweeted later that night.

The damage to the home was $27,000.

Charles Booker saw a small fire and some smoke at his neighbor’s home and dashed over to help.

“I rang on the door, (banged) on the door till I got him (to wake up),” Booker said. (It) took me about three to four minutes to get him (to wake up).”

Booker said his neighbor was downstairs.

By then, the flames were shooting from the roof of the home.

“I'm glad I was here to wake him up,” Booker said.

The man and his dog safely escaped the inferno.

“Just lucky I was home,” Booker said.

It took 32 firefighters under 25 minutes to control the fire. No one was hurt.

Authorities are working to determine how the fire started.

Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.