Local

Flames engulf 2 homes in Orange County

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Two homes caught fire Friday afternoon, Orange County Fire Rescue said.

Firefighters said they were called at about 3 p.m. to Mellowood Avenue near Lake Underhill Road and South Econlockhatchee Trail.

One home was fully engulfed in flames, and half of the other home was on fire, officials said.

"When we arrived on scene, there was a ball of fire in between two homes, so we can't determine which one it was," Orange County Battalion Chief Carollee Burrell said.

Resident Bill Haar, 70, was at work when his neighbor called him to tell him that his home of 20 years was on fire.

"'Bill: Both of our houses are on fire,' and I just really broke down," he said. "It took me about a half hour to get here."

Neighbor Lynne Bahre said she and her husband Gary Gionne had left their home 10 minutes before the flames sparked.

"When we crossed (East) Colonial (Drive), we saw smoke and said 'that can't be our house,'" she said. "It went all through the roof and everything."

"There's not much left of anything," Gionne said.

Firefighters said they rescued a dog from one of the burning homes.

No one was inured.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.