Local

‘Like an explosion’: Investigation into fast-moving Orlando house fire underway

ORLANDO, Fla. — An investigation is underway after a home exploded in Orlando early Monday evening that left one man in critical condition.

>>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<<

Neighbors are speculating that a candle may have started the fire, and a gas can helped to shoot flames through the roof. However, firefighters can’t explain why the fire grew as quickly as it did.

The fire reached up to 30 feet in the air and burned the man inside.

Neighbor Happy Gafford said it was “almost like an explosion.”

READ: Orlando firefighters battling house fire

She said she helped the victim with first aid until emergency crews arrived.

She and other neighbors said the man was the only person home at the time, and that a candle started the fire, which was then exacerbated by a gas can on the front porch.

Orlando Fire District Chief Harvey Jones said his crews ran extra lines to keep a large propane tank from exploding and a neighboring house from being damaged.

READ: The smell of Florida medical marijuana farms isn’t sitting well with neighbors

Investigators said they would try to figure out why the fire grew as quickly as it did.

“The fire moved pretty fast,” Jones said. “Under normal circumstances normally wouldn’t have gone up -- and it was through the roof by the time we got here.”

READ: Jay Leno released from hospital after car fire

Firefighters reduced the flames to smoke in about 20 minutes.

The family’s dog made it out of the fire and was being cared for by a neighbor.

Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, click here to download the WFTV Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.

Adam Poulisse, WFTV.com

Adam Poulisse joined WFTV in November 2019.