FIRE DESTROYS NORTH PORT HOME

A RAPIDLY MOVING FIRE DESTROYED A HOME ON GARRISON AVENUE IN NORTH PORT ESTATES ON MONDAY, LEAVING A SINGLE MOTHER AND HER THREE CHILDREN HOMELESS.  AUTHORITIES SAY THE FIRE BROKE OUT AROUND 11:20AM AND SPREAD QUICKLY IN THE WOOD STRUCTURED HOUSE.  THEY ARRIVED ON SCENE WITHIN THREE MINUTES OF THE CALL, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE WEREN’T ANY CITY FIRE HYDRANTS IN THE AREA HINDERED THEIR FIGHTING THE BLAZE.  TWO DOGS WERE RESCUED BUT THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF THE FAMILY’S TWO CATS.  MICHAEL FRANTZ, FIRE MARSHAL FOR NORTH PORT, SAYS THE HOME IS A TOTAL LOSS, AND HE TOLD THE SUN THAT AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE IN THE KITCHEN MAY BE THE CAUSE.  JOY WILSON AND HER FAMILY LOST EVERYTHING, AND THE AMERICAN RED CROSS IS PUTTING THEM UP IN A HOTEL FOR SEVERAL DAYS.  A FRIEND OF WILSON HAS SET UP A BANK ACCOUNT IN HER NAME, TONIA SACHKAR AT BUSEY BANK.   DONATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED AT EITHER THE NORTH PORT OR PORT CHARLOTTE BRANCHES.