Firefighters battle a fire at 2805 75th St. W. in Lehigh Acres.
A lack of manpower, coupled with strong winds and a large fire, contributed to the destruction of a single-family home in Lehigh Acres.
Officials received a call at 1:58 p.m. Sunday about a fire at a home at 2805 75th St. W. and Lehigh Acres Fire and Rescue responded.
"It was fully involved when we got here and there were flames and smoke coming through the roof," said Patrick Comer, Lehigh Acres fire spokesman. "It was a very dangerous fire."
Strong winds and the large fire, Comer said, had firefighters concerned about potential for brush fires.
The North Task Force, which consists of Alva, Bayshore, North Fort Myers, Fort Myers and Cape Coral fire stations, were called to assist.
More than 5,000 gallons of water were used on the fire but it wasn't enough. "Our challenge is that we were out of water," Comer said. "There are no water lines out here and 5,000 gallons should have been plenty but the winds and fire were just too strong."
Flames consumed the entire structure and Comer said a lack of manpower may have been to blame as well.
"We had water lines ready and we didn't have people to man them," he said. "The firefighters are disappointed. ... They don't like to see this. We want to beat it but they got beat today."
No one was home at the time of the fire. The American Red Cross has been called to help the family of four who lived there.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
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