BRADENTON, Fla. — One person was injured and multiple dogs died after a house fire and explosion in Manatee County Thursday afternoon.
According to the Southern Manatee Fire Rescue, the house — which is located south of Bradenton on 11th Street Court E — had five people and four dogs inside at the time of the fire.
All five people survived the blaze, but one of them suffered burns that are survivable. Two dogs died. According to the homeowner Gary McClough, tens of thousands of dollars worth of belongings, tools, and vehicles were destroyed.
McClough was running an errand when the blaze quickly consumed his home.
“I raced here as fast as I could. Didn’t get caught by any lights. By the time I get here, the house was down," he said. "It was gone.”
McClough and firefighters said the fire could be particularly intense and dangerous because of what was inside the house.
“We had a few propane tanks about barbecue grill size. They exploded, causing an extension of the fire as well," said Battalion Chief Chad D'Agostino.
Authorities said the home was a total loss. A neighboring house was also damaged due to an explosion, but firefighters successfully stopped the fire from spreading down the block.
Both McClough and D'Agostino hope the fire will serve as a reminder to others about how and where propane tanks should be stored.
“It’s always a good idea to keep your propane tanks stored outside. You never want to store a propane tank inside," D'Agostino said.
“Keep ‘em far away from the house," McClough added.
Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue assisted in the response.
The fire's cause is still under investigation. However, according to McClough, a mechanical issue with a motorcycle may have sparked the blaze.
