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‘We could feel the heat’: Neighbors describe fire that ripped through Orange County home

By Christy Turner, WFTV.com and Gene Saladna, WFTV.com
By Christy Turner, WFTV.com and Gene Saladna, WFTV.com

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Fire lit up the sky and woke neighbors up early Wednesday in the Pine Hills community.

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Firefighters raced to the 2900 block of Danforth Drive around 2:30 a.m. and began battling flames shooting from a home.

Neighbors told Eyewitness News they saw flames rise at least 25 feet from the roof and worried as embers flew toward their own home.

Channel 9′s Christy Turner spoke to a man who made it out unharmed.

Photos: Firefighters battle house fire in Orange County

He’s OK but his roommate burned his hands. The damage is extensive and he lost everything in the fire.

“My roommate starts screaming that house on fire, house on fire. I don’t believe him first. I opened the door and then I noticed smoke everywhere,” said Ernesto Viana.

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WFTV watched as crews from Orange County Fire Rescue sprayed water onto the house, working to put the fire out.

“The flames got so intense, and it was maybe 25 feet in the air. The flames bellowing out the house and just a lot of crackling and popping,” said Mario Ortega, a neighbor. “We could feel the heat like it was summer.”

The flames were extinguished around 3:20 a.m.

WATCH: Cell phone video shows fire that destroyed Orange County home

Around 4:30 a.m. Wednesday, fire officials were still at the scene to conduct their investigation.

Investigators said the blaze may have an electrical cause.

Crews said they found propane tanks on the back porch. They kept the tanks cool while working to extinguish the flames.

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They said they were able to move the tanks to a safe location once the flames were fought back.

The State Fire Marshal’s Office and the Red Cross were notified.

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Orange County house fire (WFTV.com News Staff)

See map below for location of the fire:

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