UPDATE: Lightning to blame for Southport house fire

SOUTHPORT, NC (WWAY) — A Southport home was destroyed by fire Monday morning.

Brunswick County Fire Marshal Scott Garner said firefighters were called to the home in the 4000-block of Carol Street about 8 a.m. A recently retired firefighter, Joe Pierce, lives at the home. He served as a volunteer firefighter in Southport for more than 30 years.

“Usually he’s the one rushing into a building, but today — which happens to be his birthday — he came home to find that his house was on fire,” Pierce’s sister, Libby Johnson said. “He has lost everything today.”

Among the things he lost in the fire was his beloved pet, his dog Rebel.

Garner is calling the incident a total loss. He said lightning started the fire.

Here is a link to a GoFundMe page for Joe Pierce.