Six Winter Haven residents have been left without a home after a fire broke out in the early hours today. As reported by WTSP, a neighbor called it in after seeing flames at the back of a home across from their own on 3rd Street NE around 5:30 a.m.
Responding within minutes, two Winter Haven police officers hastily entered the burning home and initiated rescue efforts. In their haste, the blaze was reported to have been contained to the rear portion of the home, where the fire was battled by Winter Haven Fire crews, assisted by Polk County Fire Rescue teams. Despite being contained, the laundry room and the kitchen were damaged, as FOX 13 News details.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries among the six individuals residing in the home, nor among the police or fire service responders. The American Red Cross has stepped in to aid the displaced residents, providing them with necessary assistance during this time of upheaval.
According to WFLA, the house fire took the sleeping residents by surprise, who were unaware of the danger until the officers arrived to rescue them. With the fire contained, the rest of the residence suffered only from smoke damage, ensuring that the flames, which averted spreading, did not reach the front of the house.
