Family of 5 displaced, fire destroys St. Augustine home

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A St. Johns County family is without a home after a fire broke out early Saturday morning.

Investigators say the fire started near the AC unit in the garage, the damage was so severe the roof collapsed.

The fire also destroyed a car parked in the driveway and damaged the exterior of a neighbor's home.

Investigators tell Action News Jax three adults and two children were inside the home at the time.

An adult was taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation, the family later took a child to the hospital as a precaution because the child is asthmatic.

Corey Thomas, a neighbor, saw the blaze and called 911.

"It was tragic," Thomas said.  "Within about 30 minutes something had exploded in the house. The whole house, in about 45 minutes, was just taken down."

Fire officials say the home is a total loss. They do not believe the fire is suspicious.

Cox Media Group