ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Crews are responding to a house fire near Universal Studios in Orange County, according to officials.
Orange County Fire Rescue officials said crews were working to contain the blaze at a home on Shoreline Drive near Turkey Lake Road Sunday afternoon.
According to officials, crews arrived at the scene and found heavy flames blasting through the roof of the home. The fire was still very active around 3 p.m.
It’s unclear what prompted the flames or whether anyone was inside the home at the time.
Mount Dora Fire Department Deputy Chief Rich Loewer said rescue crews were dispatched to the home after reports of the fire.
“Pretty heavy damage in the house. A lot of fire damage obviously in the attic area. And then water damage from insulation and stuff falling,” Loewer said.
The neighborhood went through a tense period when severe weather rolled through the area before noon. Mike Cassem who lives nearby watched the fast-moving fire engulf his neighbor’s house.
“It was a very good size. It was, and I was surprised how fast it burned,” Cassem said.
Sharon Goodwin said she heard a crack of thunder before a bolt of lightning blew a hole through her neighbor’s roof, partially collapsing it.
“Oh yeah, I heard it but I didn’t know anything had happened other than it made that noise and then all of a sudden these fire engines were coming,” Goodwin said. We all feel terrible, I was going to go and offer a place to sleep if they need one.”
The fire was reported around the same time strong storms moved through the region, bringing lightning, hail, heavy rain and strong winds. Officials said a house fire in Mount Dora was sparked by a lightning strike.
Officials said they’re still working to confirm if weather played a role in the Orange County fire.
[PHOTOS: Central Florida sees hail, heavy downpours as strong storms move through region]
Hail near College Park area Sunday, April 11.
No other details were immediately available.
This is a developing story. Stay with News 6 and ClickOrlando.com for updates.