Raleigh, N.C. — A large home on Swithland Court in north Raleigh was destroyed Wednesday night after a fire started on the patio, authorities said. 

Bay Leaf Fire Department crews responded to the home about 10 p.m. as the roof collapsed in flames. No one was inside the house at the time of the fire, according to an emergency dispatcher. 

Firefighters said there was a gathering at the house and that families were about to make s'mores in the patio fireplace when the fire started. 

Fire crews attempted to enter the house and contain the blaze, but they were forced back when the home began to collapse. 

"We made an attempt to get to the second floor to try to stop it in the attic, but we had some collapses pretty quick," Bay Leaf Fire Department Chief Tim Pope said. "It became unsafe to have people inside so we had to back and up have people go to a defensive operation."

Neighbors stood nearby watching firefighters battle the blaze. One man sprayed trees and bushes with a hose so the fire wouldn't spread.

Property records show the nearly 10,000-square-foot home is valued at $1.2 million. No other information was available.