An overloaded circuit is being blamed for a fire that destroyed the second floor of a house at 211 Monroe Street today.

Roanoke Rapids Fire Department Deputy Chief Mike Clements said the house is most likely a total loss, giving its construction.

Clements said the house was built without fire stops, a common occurrence in mill houses. “The void spaces in the walls allow heat to travel in the attic. It's a way of extending the fire.”

Firefighters received the call shortly after 7:45 this morning and stayed on the scene for more than three hours. “Fire crews made an initial attack and got a quick knockdown,” Clements said. “There was some wind blowing and the cold temperatures didn't help. Most of the time was spent looking for and putting out fire extensions (hotspots).”

Investigation by Battalion Chief Richard Cook and Lieutenant Kevin Hawkins determined the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction and space heaters plugged in through extension cords, which overloaded circuits.

“With the temperatures we're experiencing now and through the rest of winter, use space heaters in a safe manner,” Clements said. “Avoid using drop cords and plug them directly in the outlet.”

Clements said space heater and kerosene heater users should give the appliances three feet of space. Kerosene heaters should not be filled indoors and ovens should not be used as a heating source, “Especially if there are small children to avoid burn injuries.”

An oven, Clements said, cannot regulate itself if the door is open.

While the second floor of the house was declared a total loss, Clements said some of the items on the first floor should be salvageable.

The fire department's summation of events coincides with what one of the residents told rrspin.com at the scene this morning — that he had been having electrical problems and that the fire started soon after the breaker was turned back on. “The circuit reenergized an already damaged circuit,” Clements said.

Roanoke Rapids received assistance from Gaston and Davie fire departments as well as Halifax EMS and Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad.

The American Red Cross also responded.