Fire Rips Through North Lauderdale Home

NORTH LAUDERDALE (CBS4) – A smoky fire destroyed a North Lauderdale home Tuesday morning.

North Lauderdale spokeswoman Pam Donovan said it began when a water heater in a home at 8220 SW 8th Street caught on fire. The couple who lived in the home called 911.

The entire roof was engulfed by fire before firefighters came to the scene. A Broward Sheriff's deputy, who arrived before firefighters, tried to put it out with a fire extinguisher. That, according to Donovan, is when the heater exploded.

"When I first got there the family was pointing to the laundry room and I noticed a small fire from that particular room so I just advised the family to get out of the house," Det. Larry Jenkins with BSO said.

The couple, along with their three kids, grandfather, their two dogs and seven birds, made it out safely. According to the homeowner Basil Singh, his wife was doing laundry, took a break and returned to continue and finish up. That's when she discovered the fire.

The couple wasn't sure if the fire was coming from one of the water heaters or an appliance.

"We took the breaker off and by that time the fire was already on the roof," Singh said. "We called 911. The cop responded and when he came there he took and extinguisher and tried to put the fire out but it was gone too far."

Using high pressure water hoses, firefighters attacked the flames from several fronts. However, they couldn't keep it from spreading throughout structure and roof.

At one point, the firefighters who in the house were ordered out over fears of a roof collapse.

Donovan said the home is a total loss.

The family does have insurance. They will be staying with friends and family until the home is repaired, CBS4's Gwen Belton reported.

No injuries were reported.