WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) – One family is without their home after an early morning fire Saturday in Wilmington.

Wilmington Fire Department says the fire started around 4:30 a.m.. All of the family members and their pets were able to get out of the home safely. Investigators believe the fire was caused by electrical issues.

The house is on Oleander Drive and has been in the Allen family for generations. It was built in 1924, so it also turned 100 years old this year.

Homeowner Jonathan Allen said the home isn’t a total loss, but it is severely damaged.

“Everything inside is pretty much a total loss,” Allen said. “There’s a few salvageable things that could be cleaned up. But it’s amazing, you never know till you step into one of those scenes what it’s going to be like and look like and smell like, but it’s pretty intense.”

Allen says if it wasn’t for his smoke alarms going off, he’s not sure if he and his family would have woken up on time to safely get out of the house. He said it’s a good reminder to make sure your smoke alarms have batteries and check that they’re working properly.

Allen says his family is currently staying with friends. He hopes to fix the home on Oleander and move back in one day.

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