A space heater fire destroyed a Samsula-area mobile home Thursday morning and killed eight animals that were trapped inside, according to Volusia County Fire Rescue.
A neighbor called 9-1-1 shortly after 3:30 a.m. after seeing black smoke in the area, Volusia County spokeswoman Shelly Szafraniec said.
"It's probably 80-foot flames going in the air," the caller said.
"I mean, this thing is huge."
The occupants were not home when the fire started, but they arrived around the same time the second fire engine pulled up to the scene, Szafraniec said.
An acquaintance of the family told firefighters that eight animals were inside, according to the county. Szafraniec said fire officials were never told what kind of animals were inside, but it was confirmed they were all dead.
The State Fire Marshal's office is not investigating because firefighters at the scene determined that a space heater caused the fire, Szafraniec said.
A relative picked up the residents and drove them away. Szafraniec said the family members were cold and distraught and that could be why they left so soon.
The house was a total loss. The just value was about $157,000, according to the Volusia County Property Appraiser's office.
Earlier in the morning around 1:10 a.m., a house fire was reported at 6023 S. Atlantic Ave. in New Smyrna Beach. Szafraniec said the house suffered damage, but homeowners were able to extinguish the fire before fire units arrived.
In that case, the fire started in the chimney, she said.