Woman, cat escape St. Johns County house fire

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A woman was able to escape Wednesday morning when her Julington Creek home went up in flames.

The home is on Cumberland Court, near Fruit Cove Middle School.

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St. Johns County Fire Rescue officials said their crews and crews from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department helped put the fire out. It was declared under control after about 40 minutes, around 10:30 a.m.

A SJCFR spokesman said firefighters were able to get the family's cat out of the house without any injuries. They also found an American flag inside the house and removed and folded it before the flames could destroy it.

Firefighters said no one was injured, but the home, which has a fire hydrant in its front yard, was left with significant damage, mostly in the garage area and attic space.

Neighbors said the fire appeared to have started in the garage.

"The first thing I was telling people was to get back," neighbor Theresa Pepe said. "People were walking up to the house. I said, 'What if the car blows up? You could get hit by something.' Little girls were outside. Everybody needs to get back."

Pepe lives a couple of houses away and said she heard a loud boom and looked outside to see flames and thick, black smoke.

"I came running out because the lady was out here in the street shaking," Pepe said of the homeowner. "I asked her if there were any people in the house and if fire rescue was coming."

Pepe said she is thankful that crews got the fire out before it spread without any injuries. But the sight of the home and van in flames is something she won't soon forget.

"It was quite shocking; quite disturbing," Pepe said.

SJCFR investigators will work to determine where and how the fire started. The State Fire Marshal's Office will also investigate.

The home has been boarded up, and the family will be staying at a hotel for the next few days with assistance from the Red Cross.