Battalion Chief Jason Patrick said firefighters received the call around 3:15 p.m. and witnessed flames coming from under the front porch.
There was an initial report someone was inside the house but a search, in what Patrick said was zero visibility with smoke also coming from the attic, confirmed no one was inside.
It took about 30 minutes to get the fire under control and the fire department called its fire marshall, Scottie Jean, to do an investigation.
The cause of the fire has not been determined but it is not considered to be suspicious, Patrick said.
The house sustained smoke and water damage as well as damage to the front porch but appears to repairable, Patrick said.
Thirteen Roanoke Rapids firefighters arrived and six members of the Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad responded to be on standby for rapid intervention and help with overhaul.
Firefighters cleared the scene between 7:30 and 8 p.m.
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