NOCATEE, Fla. — A fire devastated a tranquil Saturday evening off State Road 17, transforming lives in Nocatee, just outside of Arcadia, into a whirlwind of chaos. The flames left several families, including those of Natalie Handlin and her boyfriend, without a home.
CLICK TO WATCH AS FOX 4’S ANVAR RUZIEV SPEAKS WITH THE HOMEOWNER:
Fire in Nocatee destroys three RVs, leaving neighbors homeless
According to DeSoto County Fire Rescue, the crisis began at 6:24 p.m. and took a mere 20 minutes to gain control over, but the damage was irreparable. Three RV trailers were engulfed in flames, obliterating the sense of security for those living inside.
She vividly recalled the moment when smoke filled her RV, “All of a sudden smoke is coming out of the floor, and we didn’t have any other place to go,” Natalie expressed with shaky resolve. “I just grabbed him out of the chair and threw him out the front door so he wouldn’t burn to death in our house. We have three dogs—I had to throw them out the window, one by one, because by that time the flames were too high to go out the front door.”
In the aftermath, her boyfriend faced hospitalization for respiratory issues, yet thankfully, no other injuries surfaced amidst the devastation. The loss weighed heavily on Natalie as they scoured the wreckage of their lives together. “It was surreal,” she reflected. “When they tell you your life is precious, you don’t have time to run around looking for material items. It’s shocking—just like that, it was all gone.”
This tragic incident has sparked investigations into the fire’s origin, with preliminary witness accounts hinting at a loose propane tank hose as a potential cause. Meanwhile, the community supports the affected homeowners. The American Red Cross stepped in to offer two nights in a hotel, but uncertainty looms regarding their next steps.
As they ponder how to rebuild their lives, they are considering starting a GoFundMe campaign, reflecting both their resilience and the strength of the local community, which is known for rallying around its own.
