BURKE COUNTY, N.C. – A homeowner has lost everything in a house fire and neighbors were left questioning firefighters response time.

A large pile of rubble is all that is left on Roger Hill Road where John Carson, also known as Pete, lived with his wife.

He said he went outside to put a sweater on his dog that was cold. He then walked down the hill to feed his horses and hogs. Just minutes later, someone yelled at him telling him his home was on fire.

“It was terrible what was coming out, terrible,” he said.

He said he desperately tried to rescue his dog and cats that were inside and said he burnt his finger trying to get the dog, but couldn’t. It took multiple departments four hours and six departments to put the fire out. They are still working to figure out a cause.

“There was a lot of stuff and some wood heaters in here also. A lot of stuff that runs off electric. It’s going to be tough and may never be determined,” deputy fire marshall Cecil Huffman said.

A neighbor who did not want to go on camera contacted Spectrum News and was worried about firefighters response time. Huffman says it took firefighters around fifteen minutes to arrive at the home. That is something he says happens when you live in a rural area.

“You have to realize they have to come from their home to the station to get the truck and then the truck to come here,” he said.

Pete who goes out of his way to help everyone in need is now in need himself of prayers he said.

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