House fire investigation ongoing
The State Fire Marshal’s Office is continuing to investigate a fire early Sunday morning that destroyed a residence in northwest Cape Coral.
At about 3:45 a.m., Cape police responded to a burglar alarm at 918 N.W. 32nd Place. As an officer approached the area, the structure fire was seen “with flames as least as high as the nearby power poles,” a report states.
The officer observed the north side of the home almost fully engulfed in flames and the roof had collapsed. The garage door was partially open.
Police broke windows and sliding doors to try and check for anyone inside.
Firefighters arrived and took control of the scene. According to a report, approximately two-thirds of the home showed a large amount of flames. A search of the home revealed no one was inside. The fire was extinguished.
Battalion Chief Alan Carter reported Wednesday that the damage to the residence is estimated at $250,000. A Toyota vehicle and a Harley Davidson motorcycle were in the garage at the time. The loss is valued at $50,000.
The fire’s area of origin was located up in the ceiling, over the rear of the garage, and the heat source was possibly electrical in nature. The cause of the fire and point of origin are under investigation pending additional tests.
The first police officer to arrive reported observing no “visible signs” of an attempted burglary or damage unrelated to the fire in a perimeter check.
The incident is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal’s Office.