A house fire on the morning of Oct. 21 severely damaged the interior of a home on Ramona Boulevard in Jacksonville’s Westside, leaving a family of five temporarily displaced. According to News4JAX, the blaze began when the homeowner’s wife, Elisabeth Flye, placed groceries on the stove and inadvertently turned on a burner, though investigators later indicated the fire likely started behind the wall at the bottom of the oven, suggesting an electrical origin.

Elisabeth discovered the flames while preparing a meal and, after stepping away briefly, returned to find the kitchen engulfed. She fled the house, feeling intense heat on her back, but escaped unharmed. Her husband, Michael Flye, was at work when he received the call about the fire. The couple’s three children were also unharmed, but the interior of the home was left in ruins, with rooms described as “covered in black soot” and the back of the house “completely gone, obliterated.”

Firefighters responded quickly, but little could be salvaged from the blaze. Michael Flye noted that his son lost all of his belongings and attempts to rescue his daughter’s items were unsuccessful. The family is currently staying with relatives while they assess the damage and plan reconstruction.

Community members have rallied to support the Flyes. A GoFundMe campaign set up for the family has raised more than $8,000, providing essential assistance as they begin the rebuilding process. “When you have nothing, anything is amazing. So starting over again is gonna take a lot of helping hands,” Flye said.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department has been contacted for further details on the fire’s cause, but as of this report, officials have not released a final determination.

What’s next: The Flye family will continue to rely on family housing and community donations while the investigation into the fire’s origin proceeds. Residents are reminded to practice fire safety, especially when using kitchen appliances, to help prevent similar incidents.

Sources: news4jax.com