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House Fire That Killed Cats Blamed On Firecracker

POSTED: Wednesday, July 6, 2005

A firecracker may have caused a fire Tuesday that virtually destroyed an Oakleaf Plantation home and killed four of the family's five cats.

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While the fire is still under investigation, authorities said the fire started in a garage, where witnesses saw boys playing with leftover fireworks shortly before the fire broke out.

"They were playing around in there with firecrackers -- like having a little war in there," neighbor Jonathan Hoffstadt said.

Authorities think a bottle rocket went off near a gasoline can. By the time firefighters arrived, flames and smoke were coming out the windows of both the first and second floors.

The five people in the home at the time made it out safety, although one 16-year-old was treated on the scene for smoke inhalation. Only one of the family cats could be rescued by firefighters.

Clay County Fire-Rescue officials estimate the damage to be at least $150,000.

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