Bonita Springs family of 3 without a home after fire

A Bonita Springs family is safe after flames broke out inside of their home.

The fire occurred Thursday night at a house located on Spring Creek Drive and Sailfish Street. Crews were dispatched to the scene at 12:19 a.m. Friday.

Bonita Springs Fire and EMS responded to the scene.

There was extensive damage to the home’s carport and smoke damage to its roof.

Video taken Thursday night shows embers burning on the backside of the house and smoke billowing out of it.

The fire is believed to have started on the second story.

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said two people were treated for injuries: one for burns sustained in the fire and the other for smoke inhalation.

Justin and Tiffany Lofranco watched as their neighbor’s home went up in flames. They had to evacuate their children farther down the street to keep them safe.

They told WINK News their neighbors made it out safely, but only with the clothes on their backs.

The LoFrancos were thankful the fire didn’t reach their house, especially with all the brush in between their homes.

Patricia Espinosa told us this is not the first bad house fire in the neighborhood.

“Our next-door neighbor’s house burnt to the ground last November, and we called 911. Check everything that you can do for fire prevention. I was a nervous wreck after seeing that. It just, like, brings it all back,” she said.

Now, the neighborhood is left concerned about the owners of this home who lost everything.

“I had to provide shoes for her because she was barefoot. Her son did injure his foot,” Tiffany said.

We’re still waiting to find out the cause of this fire, but investigators say it was accidental.
LCSO said it started in the back of the lanai.

As for the homeowners, they told us they don’t know what their next steps are. They are in a hotel, and their dog is with a neighbor down the street.