Crews investigating cause of Golden Gate house fire

North Collier Fire is at the scene of a fire that ruined a home on 18th Avenue Southwest in Golden Gate.

According to J. Nolan Sapp, fire chief of the Greater Naples Fire Rescue District, a call came in about a structure fire in the rear of a home Monday morning. When fire crews left the station, they could see the column of smoke from a distance.

A neighbor told WINK News she heard two loud explosions around 6:30 a.m. and heard the fire crews’ sirens 15 minutes later.

The attic of the house was engulfed in flames once firefighters arrived. No one was injured, but emergency medical services did evaluate the occupants of the home.

Jeff Roll, captain of Greater Naples Fire Rescue, says he believes the house is a total loss.
Fortunately, the homeowner confirmed to him that everyone was out of the house safely. Roll doesn’t believe the owner suffered from smoke inhalation, but the man was transported to the hospital regardless.

Roll says it took around 30 minutes to put the fire out. Fire crews believe the fire started on the house’s lanai, though there was also fire coming from the attic. The cause is still under investigation. Roll says they’re going to keep a hose on the ground, just in case. Due to the cold weather, many precautions are in place to prevent the firefighters from suffering from hypothermia.

This is a developing story and will be updated as new information becomes available.