ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A large house fire in St. Augustine was still active Monday afternoon, with fire rescue attempting to put it out. 

Massive flames could be seen at the house in the 500 block of Pantano Drive. They said the fire started around 4 p.m.

The fire was put out between 4:35 to 4:45 p.m.

No one was inside the house at the time, and no one was injured. 

There was severe weather in the area, and the fire may have been caused by lightning, according to SJFR. 

Neighbors described the scene as unlike anything they had ever seen.

“That house is literally burning,” stated Ada Hajidini, who was the first on the scene and began live streaming the fire. “I had never witnessed a fire like that before, and given the intensity, with the homes being so close to each other, it was astonishing.”

Fire crews faced challenging conditions as the ceiling and roof collapsed from the inside.

“We conducted a search of the accessible areas and started tackling the fire,” commented Chris Naff from St. Johns County Fire Rescue. “However, at that point, the entire ceiling and roof of the building collapsed internally, making it challenging for us to enter, which then poses a safety concern for our team.”

Residents mentioned that nearly 30 to 40 firefighters were involved in containing the fire and preventing it from reaching nearby houses, utilizing numerous tools to safeguard adjacent properties.

Many residents expressed their gratitude for the quick and coordinated response.

“I just thought that was amazing, what a community, what a city that has such a very comprehensive approach,” neighbor Sohan Banaich said.

Naff said lightning from a recent storm could have caused the fire.

“This could be a cause from lightning,” he said. “Lightning is kind of hard to predict.”

He advised homeowners to ensure they have functional fire extinguishers and smoke detectors throughout their residences, including in garages and attics, to offer an early alert.

“It might have been our house that got struck by lightning, and I’m not always here throughout the year, and I travel a lot, so it’s important to realize that incidents like this are possible,” Banaich remarked. “It’s nobody’s fault. This is an act of God.”

The residents also expressed concern for the homeowners, who they say are out of town.

“There could be all kinds of pictures, and, you know, memories in the house that is very near and dear to their house,” Banaich added.

The city and state fire marshals are investigating the exact cause of the fire.