Fire destroys Holly Springs home, kills family pets

Flames were seen shooting out of the roof at 6241 Hilbert Ridge Drive as heavy smoke engulfed the home.

Firefighters arrived after Shain Peterson, who lives nearby, heard what sounded like an explosion and dialed 911.

“It was pretty large,” he said. “It went up the left side of the whole garage door, and then it started to move all the way up to the roof and get on the second floor.”

The home sustained about $400,000 in damage, mostly to the garage.

“Cars, an RV and a couple of propane tanks were all involved in the garage,” said Holly Springs Fire Chief LeRoy Smith.

No one was home when the fire started, said Smith, who added that the residents are receiving help from the Red Cross.

Peterson said he was glad he had the presence of mind to quickly contact emergency operators.

“I didn't want it to like spread to the trees and stuff and start getting to other houses,” he said. “That would have been really bad.”

A number of firefighters were treated for exhaustion, but Smith said they were OK.