Photos and videos for Headline Surfer® by Sue Hansen Payne /OAK HILL, Fla. -- It took 18 firefighters from Volusia County, New Smyrna Beach, Edgewater and Brevard County a couple hours to full extinguish a two-story wood-framed home at 212 Gaines St., early on this Wednesday afternoon that left a family homeless.
An adult female was in the home at the time, but was able to get escape the flames without any injuries, but the house was completely destroyed by the fire, which was visible to responding firefighters.
The origin and cause of the fire is unknown, said Paul Ebanks, a division fire chief for Volusia County Fire Services out of the Lake Helen firehouse.
The family was referred to the Red Cross, Ebanks said.
Reaction in the community was one of sadness for the family left without a home.
There are three children that live there...two elementary-aged boys and a little girl who is 4 or 5 -- I'm pretty sure they lost everything -- any one who could help let me know and I can let the family know," Richelle Wheeler Lee said.
The common theme among several concerned neighbors was voiced by Lisa Carpenella Tatro for this homeless family that lost evetyhing in the fire: "Sending prayers."
The common theme among several concerned neighbors was voiced by Lisa Carpenella Tatro for this homeless family that lost evetyhing in the fire: "Sending prayers."