ORLANDO, Fla. – An 18-year-old smelled smoke after a fire broke out early Thursday at his Orlando home along Lake Underhill Road, waking him up and getting him to get his family to safety, according to his mother.
According to the Orlando Fire Department, firefighters responded around 3:45 a.m. to the home near Andes Avenue.
Firefighters said they made sure everyone in the home got out safely and then went to the back of the home, where there were flames coming from the porch.
News 6 spoke with Katarina Hurcikova, who said her 18-year-old son smelled the smoke and woke everyone up to get them out of the house.
“He was calling 911, we were trying to hose it down with the fire extinguishers we have, but that wasn’t quite enough,” she said. “... He’s so calm in every situation, I don’t even know how to express my gratitude to him.”
Once crews were able to get water on the fire, they said it spread into the attic, causing severe damage. Flames were put out in a matter of minutes.
Video from a traffic camera on State Road 408 captured the flames as crews were called out.
Four people total are displaced, and the Red Cross was notified to assist the family.
The fire department said the cause of the fire is being determined by investigators.