ROCKINGHAM — A spreading stove fire led to the response of three fire departments late Thursday afternoon.

Bryan Cloninger, deputy chief of the Northside Volunteer Fire Department, said someone inside the home at 117 Watkins Loop Road was cooking when a fire started and spread up the wall into the attic.

He said the fire was mainly contained to the kitchen, which is “probably totaled.”

There was no visible damage to the outside of the house.

Fred Steele owns the home, but is renting it out. He said he’s not sure if the kitchen will be fixable.

“I’ll have to get somebody to look at it,” he said.

Cloninger said the American Red Cross had been called to help provide assistance to those who were staying in the home.

Both the Ellerbe and Hoffman fire departments responded for mutual aid.

William R. Toler