Fire breaks out at St. James City home, owner and elderly dog escape safely

ST. JAMES CITY, Fla. (WINK) —  Firefighters responded to a residential fire with explosions reported off Royal Palm Drive in St. James City earlier today.

Crews arrived to find light smoke coming from a two-story home and quickly put out the fire, stopping it from spreading further.

No injuries were reported, fire crews arrived within six minutes and knocked down the flames. 

WINK News reporter Riley Lehman spoke with the homeowner at the scene.

The homeowner, a former firefighter, tried to save his home but was overtaken by smoke. Lee County EMS checked him out, and he is okay now.

His elderly dog made it out of the house safely.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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