Family of 7 escapes Panama Park house fire

Fire sparked in laundry room, authorities say

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A family of seven has lost its home after a fire ignited in the laundry room Tuesday morning, authorities said.

According to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, no one was injured in the fire.

The homeowner reports he was drying clothes in the laundry room when he saw smoke coming from the dryer. He ran to wake up the rest of the family and rush them out of the home.

"I'm just shocked. I don't know what we're gonna do. You know, we here about it on the news it happened but you never think it happens to you," said Jack Saig. He said it's a blessing that he and his family got out safely. "That's what's most important. I got my daughter out, I got my son, I got my mom and then my dad, my brothers and we're all safe."

Firefighters said they were dispatched to the fire around 3:47 a.m. They managed to contain the fire within 10 minutes. However, the home was a total loss.

Seven people live in the home, which is at the intersection of Liberty Street and East 43rd Street. The family consists of a mother, father, four boy, one little girl, and their kitten.

Firefighters also managed to save the little girl's kitten who was lost in the home.

They received assistance from the American Red Cross.

"I'm a single parent and I got my daughter and my son. You know, I got two other brothers that stay here and my mom and my dad, but I have no clue what we're gonna do," said Saig.

A GoFundMe account has been set up to help the family.