Bernie Mont
•8/6/2026
A house fire on Stella Street in Fort Myers displaced six residents Wednesday afternoon, caused extensive damage, and is now the subject of a criminal investigation, according to the Fort Myers Police Department. Mia Cassitt, who lived in the home, said she first noticed something unusual while preparing to go to sleep. "I was just about to down and go to sleep, and I smelled — at first it was like incense, so I kind of got up and put my head out the door, and I looked next to my ," Cassitt said. Cassitt said she knocked on the door several times but received no response. The Fort Myers fire and police departments responded to Cassitt's 911 call and extinguished the fire upon arrival. Despite their efforts, the damage was significant. Video footage shows a charred black bed, a torn-apart ceiling and debris scattered across the floor. Onnie Mitchell, an 80-year-old neighbor who was one street over when the fire started, said, "I tried to help the person that was there, but nobody really knew what happened." Cassitt said six people lived in the house, which she has not returned to since the fire. "A fire like that could hurt all of us if I awake," Cassitt said. The Fort Myers Police Department confirmed the incident remains a criminal investigation. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
