A Blacksburg house was destroyed by fire early Sunday morning.

The Blacksburg Fire Department was called to the house in the 3100 block of Emerson Lane in the Prices Fork community just before 4 a.m., said assistant chief Bobby Carner.

When firefighters arrived, flames were shooting through the roof, he said. Crews, including firefighters from the Longshop-McCoy Volunteer Fire Department, had the blaze under control in about 30 minutes.

The house is a total loss, Carner said.

Two adults and a 10-year-old girl were sleeping when the fire started in a bedroom, Carner said.

The house didn't have smoke detectors, but one of the adults woke up, saw the fire and alerted the others. They made it out safely and are staying with family.

Carner said a portable heater is believed to have started the blaze.

-- Amanda Codispoti