'We lost everything’: Family of 4 escapes fire that destroyed Gaston County home

GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — A family of four escaped after their home caught fire overnight in Gaston County.

“It only took a second, and we lost everything we had,” homeowner Lee Spargo said.

A deer camera alerted the family to the fire on the porch of the home on Helms Drive near Mount Holly.

“If I didn’t hear that ding, we would have probably all burned up,” Lee Spargo said.

Spargo said he saw the flames on the camera and woke up his wife and two children. They were all able to get out of the house.

"It's surreal," said Jonathan Spargo, Lee Spargo’s son.

Jonathan Spargo remembered his father knocking on his door before looking outside.

“I see a giant ball of fire on the back porch and within 20 seconds, I can’t see from me to you because of how much smoke was in the house,” the son told Channel 9.

Firefighters left the scene at about 5:30 a.m. Tuesday after putting out the flames. They had to return to the scene about two hours later when the fire rekindled.

The front of the home was charred with significant damage throughout.

The family was able to get two of their dogs out of the house, but the other two perished in the fire.

It’s unclear what caused the fire.

Deadly fire destroys Gaston Co. home, displaces at least 12 people Deadly fire destroys Gaston Co. home, displaces at least 12 people

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