House fire remains under investigation
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating a fire that broke out Wednesday evening at a house in southeast Cape Coral.
Fire units received a call at about 4:18 p.m. and responded to the home, located at 412 S.E. 21st Lane. Firefighters located the fire in two bedrooms at the back of the residence and extinguished the flames, according to Cape Coral Fire Department Battalion Chief Alan Carter.
“The area of origin is both back bedrooms,” he said Thursday.
The home was unoccupied when the fire occurred, and officials have determined that the fire was incendiary in nature. No one was injured.
“At this point, it’s still under investigation,” Carter said.
The State Fire Marshal’s Office was called to the scene to investigate. Detective Adam Rivero said the residence is a single-family dwelling and there was approximately $50,000 in damage to the home. The house is currently valued at about $60,000, he reported.
“It’s probably almost a total loss,” Rivero said.
The case remained open Thursday.
“The cause and origin is still being determined,” Rivero said.
State investigators are likely waiting on forensic information to come back from the state fire lab in Tallahassee, which is normal procedure, he added.
“The case is still an active ongoing investigation,” Rivero said.
According to Carter, the home has been red-tagged because of smoke and fire damage. Though the fire was retained to the back bedrooms, there was smoke damage throughout. City officials estimated the damage at $75,000.
“Obviously, the house is not livable,” Carter said.
The Cape Coral Police Department also responded to the fire call.