One person has died after a house fire near Inverness, Florida, while a dog escaped unharmed from the burning property, officials said.
Firefighters were called to the home on East Banner Lane, outside the Inverness city limits, at about 9.37am on Tuesday, 1 September, after reports of smoke.
A 911 caller told dispatchers that fire and smoke could be seen coming from a window and that a dog had run from the porch, according to the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
Crews entered the building to tackle the blaze and search for anyone who might be trapped. They found one person dead inside the property.
The fire was contained to a single room, although thick smoke spread throughout the house. No other injuries were reported and the dog was confirmed to be safe.
Investigation into Inverness house fire
The identity of the victim has not been released. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office is working with local authorities to establish how the fire started and determine the sequence of events.
Investigators have asked anyone who saw unusual activity or has security-camera footage from the area between 6am and 10am on Tuesday to contact the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
