8 displaced after suspicious house fire in Golden Gate

Greater Naples Fire Rescue District responded to a house fire with injuries in Golden Gate that is being considered suspicious Thursday. The fire chief says heavy fire was in the roof, and fire and smoke damage has made the home unlivable.

According to the fire district’s Facebook post, firefighters responded to a home that caught fire on 18th Ct SW, where one person was injured. That individual’s status is unknown at this time.

A mother told us it was devastating to see the home she and seven others lived in destroyed, but she’s glad her family is OK.

“We had an initial report of somebody still trapped inside,” Battalion Chief Corey Nelson said.

But it wasn’t a person firefighters found inside, but a family’s beloved pet dog.

The woman we spoke says the dog’s named is Chiquito.

Crew members saved Chiquito from the house. They were able to revive the dog when it was unresponsive. Thanks to a previous donation from the Verona Walk community, a pet oxygen mask helped them do so.

While there is a lot of damage, the woman told us she is thankful her 6-year-old daughter was at school during the fire. Her husband is safe too, and they are all together.

See pictures below, or click here for the fire district’s post with the Chihuahua. 

The fire is considered suspicious at this time, and the cause remains under investigation.

Firefighters also confirmed a pet bird died in the fire.

The American Red Cross responded to the people displaced by the fire and is helping them along with emergency services.