A Port Charlotte family says they escaped their home just minutes before flames took over late Friday night. The house is now uninhabitable, but the Santiagos say they’re just grateful to have made it out alive.
Katrina and Matthew Santiago say the fire started shortly after midnight at their home on Peachland Boulevard — and their smoke alarms never went off.
“He was awakened a little after midnight,” Katrina said. “Not by smoke alarms or smell… he was woken up by God.”
When Matthew opened their bedroom door, he saw flames spreading fast. He immediately yelled for the children. Within minutes, the home filled with smoke. Katrina, three of the children, and the family dogs ran outside while Matthew and their 15-year-old son tried to save their home.
“By the time I got out there to even put anything out, the whole roof was on fire,” Matthew said.
Katrina recalls the fear of not knowing whether her husband and son had escaped. “I started screaming for them to come out.”
With no phone, keys, or belongings, a neighbor called 911. Firefighters later told the family the blaze may have been sparked by an old lithium battery.
Seeing the damage the next day was heartbreaking. “Completely shattered,” Katrina said. “It melted his whole headboard… you can tell it was on fire.”
Still, the family says the support from friends, relatives, and their church has been overwhelming — from meals to donated clothing and toys for the kids.
“We’re so thankful,” Katrina said, as they begin the long process of rebuilding their lives.
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Source: gulfcoastnewsnow
