Volusia Co. house fire could have been arson, neighbors say

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — All that remains of an Ormond Beach home is a foundation and a few walls after a fire ripped through it Wednesday morning.

Sources said this is a suspected arson and a man wanting to get back at his landlord may have burned it to the ground. The state Fire Marshal's Office is investigating.

The early-morning blaze lit up the neighborhood and woke up Ormond Beach resident Donald Knights on Palm Road, who came outside with his cell-phone and dialed 911. He then shot video of the inferno.

"Glass breaking, roof's caving in. I heard the trees burning. I thought the neighbor's house was going to catch on fire. It was scary," Knight said.

Neighbors said flames engulfed the home before firefighters even arrived, ripping through the roof and even reaching tree limbs 50 feet in the air, catching them on fire.

The cell-phone video shows Volusia County Engine 11 first on scene. Firefighters said not only did they have to contend with a fully burning housing, but a nearby fire hydrant wasn't working and there was a downed live power line.

Neighbors said despite the challenges, the firefighters were able to put out the flames in 15-20 minutes.

Firefighters said no one was inside the home. The state Fire Marshal's Office has not determined how the fire started.

Neighbors said police have been to the home before for disturbances. The homeowner is listed at a Virginia address.

WFTV will follow up with the fire marshal to find out if they think the fire was suspicious.

WFTV