Fire crews responded to a two-story house fire in St. James City on Wednesday morning.
According to the Matlacha-Pine Island Fire Control District, crews responded to calls of a structure fire on Royal Palm Drive at around 9:12 a.m.
“I heard a series of loud noises, and I stepped out on the back deck, and all of a sudden, there was a gigantic explosion, and fire came up through the cracks in the deck,” said homeowner H.
H was home with his wife and 21-year-old dog when the fire started Wednesday morning.
“I knew my wife was out. That was my first worry when I heard an explosion and she’d been trapped in her office, but she managed to get out before the flames got to the to the office,” said H.
After 36 years as a firefighter, H knew exactly what to do when the fire broke out. He knocked down most of the flames before crews even arrived.
“I went back and started hitting the hot spots and the fire department came rolling in and did all the hard work,” said H.
He also managed to get his dog to safety.
“He and I both got blown across the living room. He was trying to get in the barn door to the bedroom, which was closed. So I just rolled over, caught him, opened my jacket and put him in there, zipped him up, grabbed my phone and came up,” said H.
Fire crews say the fire was contained to a small area downstairs. H believes this propane tank caused the fire.
“I heard it whistling, and that’s the sign when the propane tank has flame impingement on it, it’s starting to vent the gases,” said H.
In the end, H says he’s simply grateful his family made it out safely.
“That’s all that matters. The rest of it’s just stuff,” said H.
The state fire marshal’s office is investigating the cause of the fire.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
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Source: Gulfcoast
