Fire displaces Jacksonville family of seven, leaving home in disrepair

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A Jacksonville family of seven are without a home after a fire tore through it Sunday morning.

Heavy flames and smoke were showing from the front of this home on Leon Road on Jacksonville's Southside.

Firefighters were called to the home around 9 a.m. Sunday.

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"When we pulled up to church, we seen a lot of black smoke coming from across the street," said Eddie Widener.

Widener says he then immediately called 911.

"The lady come running out with her dogs and all. I asked if she needed me to call 911, she said yes, so I called 911," Widener explained.

Crews doused the home with water and worked to ventilate the home from smoke by cutting through the roof.

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Widener told Action News Jax a family of five children, two adults and their dogs all made it out safely.

They're now being helped by the American Red Cross.

The family pulled up to the home Monday while Action News Jax Jamarlo Phillips was there to see what was left but did not want to go on camera.

"I talked to the lady last night and asked if they had insurance on the house and she said they did," Widener said.

Widener says firefighters monitored the property for hot spots for hours.

"But it's a blessing they all got out safely," he said.

The state fire marshal is now investigating to figure out how the fire started.

To contribute to a GoFundMe started by the family, click here.

Cox Media Group