North Collier Fire Rescue says crews responded to a home near 20th Avenue NE and 8th Street around 11 a.m. Friday. When they arrived, they found heavy flames coming from a separate garage and part of the home.
Firefighters went into “defensive mode,” fighting the fire from the outside as the roof burnt away and it was no longer safe inside.
No one was home at the time, but the family had two cats and a dog inside. Fire crews rescued one cat, but the other unfortunately didn’t survive. The family’s dog, Buoy, ran away.
Neighbors, including Jack Kirby, have been searching for the missing dog.
“I was getting ready to go for my usual bike ride, and some lady stopped and said there's a big fire down the street. And she had a picture of the dog already. I'm a big dog person and I've been out looking for the dog ever since, and I bet I've run into eight to 10 people that are out looking for the dog,” Kirby said.
Immokalee fire, Collier EMS, and Greater Naples fire assisted in the response. The Red Cross is helping the family.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.