SARASOTA – “Oh there were a lot of people over here. There were cars all lined up trying to get in trying to get home,” said Jim Anderson.
According to the Sarasota County Fire Department, crews responded to a four alarm house fire in the 3900 block of Country View Drive around 7 p.m. Saturday night.
Units from Sarasota County Fire Department, Manatee County, Venice, and Nokomis battled the flames at the two-story wood home.
“So a lot of fire involved upon our arrival, like I said there was multiple roof lines to deal with on this structure,” said Sarasota County Fire Chief Michael Regnier. “So we were in the process pf taking care of one area when that fire traveled to another area so we were on a defensive posture trying to pinch down the fire to one area of the structure.”
Regnier says crews fought the fire for hours resulting in three firefighters transported to a local hospital. Anderson has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years and witnessed the fire feet from his driveway.
“The whole top of that roof was on fire and they had the firetruck with the big boom on it and he was up there as far as that palm tree is shooting at it for hours,” said Anderson.
Multiple additions on the home created a number of different roof lines making battling the fire challenging. One firefighter did fall through the roof but sustained no injuries.
“We did have a mayday call from one of our firefighters that were on the roof when flames came through that roof area,” said Chief Regnier. “He did go through that roof somewhat, but we were able to rescue him quickly and take care of that firefighter. He was not injured.”
Other neighbors in the area say they heard a loud explosion just before the fire broke out. Anderson says he didn’t hear the explosion but tried helping the firefighter any way he could.
“I brought cases of water out here for them,” said Anderson. “Gave them something to drink, they appreciated that.”
According to Chief Regnier the family was home at the time of the fire but all made it out safely. Sarasota County Fire Department was able to confirm that the three firefighters taken to the hospital have been released at this time. No report on the extent of their injuries has been released.
The state Fire Marshall is investigating the cause of the fire.
