JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The fire marshal looking for the cause of an fire early Thursday morning in the Chimney Lakes neighborhood said the home was likely damaged beyond repair.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue firefighters who arrived at the home on Macinnes Drive about 6 a.m. reported flames were shooting through the roof.
A man who was leaving for work and saw the flames was the first to report the fire.
"I called first responders and got them on the way, then I went around and checked the house," Joe Locklar said. "I could hear the fire alarm, knocked on the door and rang the bell. Then I went to the back and busted the
door open yelled in. By the time I got around the front, flames had started to come through the roof."
JFRD said it took 30 firefighters close to an hour to get the fire under control and most of the damage was in the attic and garage, although there's significant water damage to the rest of the house.
"I was just concerned that there were people asleep inside. Kids, husband and wife maybe. sleeping
through it," Locklar said.
Firefighters said the two people who live in the home were not there when the fire broke out. Neighbors said the husband and wife who live there are in the military.
At one point, neighbors became worried about Locklar's safety.
"I did have a little bit of effects from smoke coming out," he said. "I told the neighbor about it. He said, 'When I saw you go around the back and not come back, around I got concerned.'"