ST. LUCIE COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities are investigating a house fire in the Lakewood Park community that left one person dead and displaced another adult and a dog.
The St. Lucie County Fire District confirmed the fatality Sunday following an hours-long response to a fire near East Seminole Road and Lakeland Boulevard. Investigators from both the fire department and the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office remained at the scene for most of the day.
WATCH BELOW: 1 person dead after suspicious fire
Earl Sanders, who lives four houses down from the fire, said he saw the smoke and flames early on and called 911.
"There's smoke coming out of the roof through all the events and everything, fire leaking up through the back. I was like, 'Boy, it's going up,'" said Sanders.
Sanders said emergency responders acted quickly after arriving at the scene.
"They got in there and they had all their wrecking tools with them and they went in there and got the door open and busted in the windows," he added.
Another neighbor, Leon Rus, described the scene near his home.
"The whole entire edge of my yard was just loaded with first responders," said Rus. "It doesn't surprise me that there was a fire in the neighborhood, but it just makes me more concerned about what could happen to me."
Crime scene units and a large command center were visible at the site Sunday afternoon. The American Red Cross also responded.
The St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office has labeled the fire as "suspicious" but has not yet released details about what may have caused it.
For those who live nearby, questions and concerns remain.
"How long they've had it blocked off definitely leaves something to be wondered on what exactly happened," Rus said.
"It's just sad to see," Sanders added, "but it is comforting that someone shows up."
As of Monday morning, the St. Lucie County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office are still actively investigating the cause of the fire.
