Family of 3 displaced after an overnight structure fire in Tanglewood

FORT MYERS, Fla. —

A peaceful night for a Lee County family turned into a night of destruction after fire crews reported that a lithium-ion Tesla battery started a fire.

"No time to do anything just grabbed my wife my father in law my little chihuahua and just go outside," said Jose Valentine.

Jose will never forget Wednesday night, before going to bed, his wife and father-in-law were in his garage just minutes before a lithium battery for a Telsa exploded.

Firefighters responded to his Westminster Drive home, putting out the fire. Valentine said all his family could do was watch decades of memories fade away.

"I think it’s just watching them lose everything is really hard," said Shannon Rebelas. "Police and firemen were busy doing what they do, but they were just standing here and there was nothing they could do."

Despite all of the damage the family has insurance, Jose is thankful his family is all right.

"I mean it’s like we lost everything, but however, we have a lot of friends this is just property it’s still alive we can recoup just come back again," said Valentine.