A mobile home, once owned by a convicted murderer, is now reduced to ashes after a fire tore through the property on Straight Street in Harlem Heights Friday.
According to the Iona McGregor Fire District, the first alarm came around 6:16 p.m., and crews saw the massive flames consuming the manufactured home along Straight Street.
Firefighters contained flames visible from far down the road. Michael Lee Anderson Sr. lives next door to the mobile home that burned down.
Officials said the Fort Myers Beach Fire District also responded to help extinguish the fire.
"Oh, it was bad. It was bad to where people could see it way in the back," Anderson said. "I just I ain't never seen a like that before in my life."
The Iona-Mcgregor Fire District battalion chief said the mobile home was abandoned, and no one was hurt in the fire.
However, for one Anderson, the charred remains hold a painful history.
Michael Lee Anderson Sr., who lives next door, recalled a tragic night over a decade ago when the mobile home’s previous owner, Madison Mobley, murdered Anderson's wife.
Anderson described the horror of that night and the memories he carries from it.
"I was right there. I couldn't do anything about it because the person brandished the gun," Anderson said.
According to the Department of Corrections , Mobley was serving a life sentence for second-degree murder.
He died in prison in 2021.
Despite Mobley’s death, Anderson's memories of that traumatic night remain vivid.
"I don't want to go down that road," Anderson said, "I’ll never forget that night."
The cause of the fire remains unknown.
Iona-McGregor Fire District battalion chief said the site will be investigated, though finding a specific ignition source may prove impossible.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.