Firefighters found flames coming from the front windows.
It was uncertain whether any occupants were at home. A search, however, after breaching the front door and extinguishing the flames, showed no one was inside. The search included the ground floor and basement of the house.
Firefighters from Gaston and Garysburg spent two hours on the scene and Gaston and Northampton County EMS provided assistance.
Porter said the probable cause was a space heater positioned too close to combustible materials.
The American Red Cross was contacted and will be providing assistance to the displaced residents.
