Fire destroys Cape Coral home; 1 person taken to hospital

A home in Cape Coral is destroyed after a fire broke out Thursday morning.

A woman at the home fled, but became distraught, worried that her husband was trapped inside, said Will Rogers, a neighbor who arrived at the home to help.

“I grabbed whatever I could, busted as many windows as I could,” he said. “Smoke started pouring out of everywhere.”

Cape Coral Fire Chief Ryan Lamb said one person was transported for smoke inhalation. The fire broke out shortly before 11 a.m., Lamb said. The home is located in the 400 block of NE 2nd Avenue.

Lamb said firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke and a report that someone might still be inside.

After two searches, they found no one, Lamb said.

Lamb said hurricane shutters were on the windows which made the home harder to access. Firefighters had to remove the garage door to get inside, he said.

The home is uninhabitable, he said.

The state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the blaze.

“The house is a complete loss,” Rogers said.

Rogers said he felt relief when first responders told him no one else was home at the time.

“I’m just thankful everyone is safe,” he said.

Nearby neighbor Annia Collado said she took in the woman’s dog.

“She lost everything,” Collado said.