One person died in a fire in Cape Coral in the early hours of Thursday that is being investigated as arson.
Cape Coral Fire Department and Police responded to a home in the 900 block of Southwest 6th Avenue just before 4 a.m.
The CCFD dispatched nine units, where the firefighters on arrival at “Heavy smoke and flames are coming from the building.”
CCFD officials said firefighters quickly began an aggressive firefighting effort and initial search, during which an adult victim was located and transported from the home to waiting emergency responders.
Mercedes Simonds, spokeswoman for the Cape Coral Police Department, said: “The victim was taken to the hospital where he was eventually pronounced dead. Investigators also found a dead cat in the fire.”
According to officials, CCFD firefighters were able to bring the fire under control about 15 minutes after their arrival.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by the Cape Coral Fire Inspectors, the State Fire Marshals Office and the CCPD.
“Investigations into the cause of the fire are currently ongoing,” said Simonds. “The fire has now been classified as arson.”
