OCOEE, Fla. — Officials are working to figure out what sparked a fire in an Ocoee couple's home just before 1 p.m. Sunday.
It happened at a home on Glenhaven Circle.
Photos: Ocoee home destroyed in fire
Fire crews said when they arrived, they saw heavy flames on the second floor, and the fire eventually spread through the entire home.
The homeowner was able to make it out in time.
“We never know who's in there. Most the time, it's only the two of them in there, but they do have grandkids who occasionally come over,” said neighbor Danny Aguiree.
Fire crews weren't taking any chances and immediately checked inside the burning home for any people or pets.
“They went ahead and made a quick rescue attempt,” said Lt. Tom Smothers, of the Ocoee Fire Department.
The homeowner’s wife was at church when the fire started.
She came home to find firefighters from Ocoee and Orange County putting out flames inside her home.
It took 17 firefighters 40 minutes to get the flames under control.
Firefighters said fast-spreading flames made it a challenge.
“Eventually the flames were throughout the second and first floor,” Smothers said.
They had to cut the garage door to reach some of the flames.
Neighbors stood by watching, worried the blaze might spread.
“They have a huge oak tree up front,” Aguirre said.
The fire didn’t spread, but the home is a total loss.
The Red Cross is helping the couple.
Neighbors said the homeowner and his wife have lived there nearly 20 years.