Local

Huntersville community rallying to help family who lost home in massive fire on Christmas

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — A family is without a place to stay after flames ripped through a home in Huntersville on Christmas Day.

[RELATED: Several families displaced after massive fire at Shelby apartment complex]

The Huntersville Fire Department tweeted video of the fire, and smoke could be seen billowing out of the roof of a home on Everett Keith Road.

Channel 9's Stephanie Tinoco learned a firefighter suffered a minor leg injury while battling the blaze and the family's dog died inside the home.

Officials said no one was inside the home when the fire started around 4 p.m. Tuesday, but the family of four lost the place they called home for the past nine years.

"Unfortunately, I believe the majority of their belongings (were) inside. Their house is a total loss. They're going to need not only to rebuild but to recover from it," said Bill Suthard, with the Huntersville Fire Department.

The home is now almost unrecognizable, but in the middle of all the bad, Channel 9 learned the fire did spark a lot of good in others.

Members of the community immediately began offering help to the family.

"He said you don't know me and I don't know you but I hope this will help," said resident Becky Morton Raborn.

The family told Eyewitness News reporter Briana Harper that in the midst of the devastation, a Bible was recovered from the home untouched.

"That is telling me that God is there for us, no matter what," said Raborn.

After receiving donations of Walmart gift cards and clothes, the family that was unexpectedly left with nothing said they feel more grateful than ever.

"Just people reaching out wanting to know what they can do and it has blessed me so much," said Raborn.

Fire officials said 19 firefighters and several volunteers helped to put out the fire in about 30 minutes.

A spokesperson said that while crews were responding to the fire, they received five additional calls for service, but assistance from off-duty staff allowed them to respond quickly.

The cause of the fire is unknown at this point, but fire officials believe it started in the back of the home and spread quickly.

To donate, visit the family's GoFundMe page.

This is an ongoing investigation. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.

Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com: