ORLANDO, Fla. – One person was seriously injured after a house erupted in flames Monday on Arthur Street in Orlando, fire officials said.
Officials said crews responded to the home around 5:10 p.m. after receiving reports of an explosion that was heard by neighbors.
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Crews found the single-family home ablaze and worked to extinguish the fire, officials added.
“We thought maybe the gas tank (blew up),” said Paul Pock, who was walking with his wife around the neighborhood when the fire broke out.”
Cellphone video captured by a witness shows nearly the entire house engulfed in flames.
Pock said the firefighters were quick to take action.
“We saw (that) they had laid a man out. I don’t know him, and the neighbors were really upset and screaming at the fire department please come look at this man and the flames of the house started getting bigger, bigger and bigger,” Pock said. “This man is fighting for his life now and it will never be the same. You know, the scars, the burns, the rehab -- and I’ve had family go through that and so it hits a nerve.”
Fire officials said Tuesday that the cause of the blaze was deemed accidental.
The Foundation for Orange County Public Schools has established a fund for the family impacted by the College Park fire. Locate and donate to the fund by clicking here.
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