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Fire marshal: 3 escape from 'intentionally set' Gaston Co. house fire

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GASTON COUNTY, N.C. — Three people escaped from a house fire Tuesday morning north of Dallas, officials said.

Fire investigators deemed the fire on Lynnhaven Drive near Philadelphia Church Road a "set fire."

Crews from six departments arrived around 4:30 a.m. to battle the flames.

The fire marshal said the fire started on a mattress that leaned against the house. The homeowner placed a sign on the mattress warning thieves that they would be shot after a washer and dryer and other items were stolen.

"Enter at your own risk,” the sign read. “You will be shot. If you don't die I'll shoot you again."

Fire set at home near Dallas wt. 3 people inside.

Posted by Ken Lemon on Tuesday, October 11, 2016

The three people who live there said they are normally asleep by early morning, but two of them happened to be up.

The homeowner told reporter Ken Lemon that a potential buyer was originally scheduled to look at the house that same day.

"Everything has been totally destroyed,” Michael Guenther said. “Gone."

Everyone survived.

"That's pretty bad that someone would come and try to set your house on fire while you are in the bed asleep,” Guenther said. “That's pure evil."

The written warning is gone, but Guenther has a new message.

Guenther: "Come try it again."

The Red Cross is helping the three, as the home is uninhabitable.

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