Robert Brito’s Marion County Home Destroyed in Early Morning Fire
Firefighters found half the house already burning when they arrived Tuesday; the family of four is staying in a hotel while they determine their next steps.
By Noah Ross ·
Robert Brito returned to his home in the 13000 block of Southwest 65th Circle in Ocala on Tuesday morning to find it engulfed in flames. The fire destroyed the residence, leaving the family of four with no place to live and no possessions to keep.
Marion County Fire Rescue crews arrived at the scene just before 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. Firefighters reported that approximately 50 percent of the structure was already consumed by fire upon their arrival. No injuries were reported.
Brito was at his job when he received a voice message from a neighbor alerting him that his house was on fire. He drove home immediately and arrived as emergency personnel worked to extinguish the blaze. He stated that nothing inside the home could be salvaged.
The damage inside the house exceeded the exterior damage visible from the street, Brito noted. He pointed out that no drywall remained on the roof and that every roof truss was burnt.
“It was just tears coming out,” Brito said. “It was just in disbelief completely, the amount of damage.”
Brito’s wife also suffered a strong emotional reaction to the scene. He described her as feeling the same shock and disbelief. He said she nearly fainted and required assistance from firefighters to regain composure.
The family lost personal items including clothes, baby toys, and the crib belonging to their one-year-old child. The family is currently staying in a hotel. Brito said they are waiting for information regarding insurance coverage. The cause of the fire has not yet been determined.
Source: WCJB
