Knight Island home burns to the ground, 1 cat killed in Charlotte County blaze

CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. (WINK) — A home on Knight Island went up in flames Saturday, sending a massive smoke column visible from miles away.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS responded to a residential fire on Kettle Harbor Drive at 1:04 p.m. Saturday, according to the department.

Crews arrived to find the home fully engulfed with significant structural damage already done.

Because the structure was too unsafe to enter, firefighters worked defensively from the outside.

The island location made things more complicated, requiring both land and water crews to respond. A fire boat joined the effort, allowing firefighters to attack the fire from multiple sides.

Englewood Area Fire Control District also helped before later clearing the scene.

One Englewood firefighter suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for evaluation before being discharged.

Two cats were inside the home at the time. The homeowners managed to get one out safely, but the second cat did not survive.

The fire caused extensive damage, with portions of the roof and multiple sides of the home collapsing. One side completely gave way, and the remaining structure was left leaning and unstable.

A nearby resident opened their home to firefighters during the extended operation, giving crews a place to cool down and rest between shifts.

Charlotte County Fire & EMS and the State Fire Marshal's Office investigated the fire, but the collapse and unstable conditions prevented investigators from fully examining the home. The cause of the fire remains undetermined.