TARPON SPRINGS, Fla. — Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue responded to a fire Monday afternoon after numerous townhomes caught on fire.
According to Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue Chief Scott Young, the fire happened at a complex on the 700 block of Haven Place. Multiple units from Tarpon Springs, East Lake, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Oldsmar and Dunedin worked to put out the flames.
Chief Young said no one was injured, but the fire destroyed four homes. He said another four units had water damage. A total of seven families are without a house.
"It went through the attic and spread that way which is usually the quickest way for a fire to get through the building," said Chief Young.
Brittney Rath said she was home at the time and she grabbed her dog and got outside.
"I could smell the smoke from inside my home. I started smelling something. It smelled like a BBQ outside because I really didn't think there would be a house next door on fire," said Rath.
Other families quickly gathered their pets after seeing flames.
"I ran inside and started evacuating my dogs and cats and animals as fast as I could," said Coquina Filor.
Firefighters have not released the cause of the fire.
A spokesperson for the Red Cross said it is providing emergency assistance for the people who lost their homes.
