A fire early Thursday morning displaced 15 residents, including five children, from an apartment complex on McCarty Street in Naples Manor.
Greater Naples Fire Rescue responded just after 8 a.m.
Investigators believe the fire started in the Garcia family’s unit due to an electrical issue in or near the bathroom vent in the attic. The flames then spread to two neighboring units.
The Garcia family has lived in their apartment since 2009. They allowed us inside to see the damage — charred walls, soaked floors, and scattered insulation. Maria Garcia said she was at work when her daughter called to tell her about the fire.
“At work, my daughter called me and said, ‘Mami, the house is burning,’” Garcia said, crying.
Her daughter, Roxanna Garcia, grew up in the apartment and described the heartbreak of losing their home.
“I mean, it's just living here 16 years. I grew up here. So everything happened here. I went to school here,” she said. “I don’t know, this is just ... it’s crazy to see that your childhood home is burnt and ruined.”
The family spent the day sorting through the wreckage, searching for anything salvageable.
The Garcias said they are grateful no one was hurt. For now, they are staying with relatives as they search for a new place to live.
The American Red Cross is assisting the displaced families.