A Saturday afternoon house fire in the 400 block of Franklin Street appears to have started in a backyard carport that was being used as a makeshift workshop, Roanoke Rapids fire Chief Jason Patrick said this morning.

Firefighters are still not sure what caused the fire, which destroyed the house at 408 Franklin Street.

Patrick said firefighters planned to return to the scene today and see if they could discover clues as to the cause.

Firefighters spent six hours on the scene after receiving the call shortly before 3:15 p.m. due to the debris and fire load — anything that can burn.

There was also heavy fire load in the attic and firefighters returned Sunday to put out hotspots.

The fire spread from the backyard and got into the overhang of the house and burned the gables of a neighboring house as well as damaging a shed in the neighboring yard. “The guys did a great job keeping the fire from spreading to that (the neighboring) house,” Patrick said.

The fire broke through the backside roof around the time units arrived. Between possessions and the structure itself, the fire caused a total loss.

There were no injuries and bystanders alerted a resident of the fire and got the person out safely. Pets were also accounted for and unharmed.

Seven on-duty RRFD firefighters responded along with 10 off-duty RRFD personnel, firefighters from Davie and Gaston, Halifax County EMS, Roanoke Valley Rescue Squad, the city’s police and public works departments.

Virginia Street shed fire

Around 1 a.m. Sunday firefighters responded to the 800 block of Virginia Street to what is believed to be an electrical fire at a 24 x 24 shed there.

Flames were shooting from the roof when firefighters arrived, Partick said.

A shed in the back alley was also damaged when the chimney of the burning shed collapsed. The shed that was on fire when crews arrived was a total loss.

Nine on-duty firefighters stayed on the scene for about an hour and a half, Patrick said.