A woman and her three children safely escaped a house fire late this morning in downtown Fayetteville immediately adjacent to Allan Vigil Ford, officials said.

Despite heavy winds that added to the danger of the fire, firefighters were able to keep the blaze from spreading to a nearby home to the east, said Fayetteville Fire Lt. Bill Rieck.

The mother did not remember where the fire was first started, as she panicked about getting the children out of the home, Rieck said. An investigation into the fire is underway and it was noted there were several space heaters inside the home though that is not an indication one of them somehow started the fire, Rieck indicated.

The first fire crew arrived within three minutes of being dispatched, but by that time flames were shooting outside parts of the home, Rieck said.

Fayetteville fire crews were able to work from inside the home to extinguish the flames. Fayette County firefighters also assisted in battling the blaze.

The fire was reported as under control just before 12:30 p.m.

Rieck said it was surprising how much of the structure is still intact given how intense the flames were initially at the scene.

The home's address was 145 Washington Avenue, a side street that extends off Church Street.