Woman, dog found dead in burning Bonita Springs home

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla. – A 75-year-old woman and her dog were found dead inside a burning home Tuesday morning, the Bonita Springs Fire Control and Rescue District said.

Firefighters responded to 27567 Dortch Ave, just north of Bonita Beach Road, at about 8:45 a.m. Family members say Shirley Corrigan and her dog Nilla were overcome by the smoke and flames. A 2-year-old girl and Corrigan’s granddaughter were also home at the time.

Landscapers working just down the street saw the fire and ran to help.

“We did the best that we could, we pounded windows out with our bare fists just to try to get in that house,” said Jamison Gray, “and we got in there, we got the little girl, out we got the dog out. But what can you do? We hear a women in there screaming, we are yelling ‘stay calm, stay calm.’ We are trying to come but by the time we get back there, it’s like 800 degrees.”

“As soon as I found out the house was burning, I ran straight onto the house,” said Cristian Ealiente. “It was smoking. I couldn’t see a damn thing. I crawled into the house.”

Two people were treated on the scene for smoke inhalation but are doing well, authorities said.

The fire appears to be accidental and started in a back bedroom, the State Fire Marshal said. The fire is estimated to have caused $60,000 in damage.