While the house at 3043 Jane Lane in the new Royal Estates subdivision was a total loss, there were no reported injuries. Jane Lane is just northeast of the Aplin Road-Okaloosa Lane intersection.
The husband, wife and three children who had lived in the house had just moved into it last week. Initial reports about the fire show that a child woke up and smelled smoke and alerted the family to get out, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office. The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Crestview Fire Chief Tony Holland said city firefighters arrived at the scene of the fire shortly after 10 p.m. Thursday and worked with North Okaloosa Fire District firefighters to extinguish the blaze. The Red Cross assisted the family with their immediate needs.
“These are customers of mine and Hattie Auclair Realtor-Coldwell Banker Realty,” Pehowic said in a Facebook post today. “This family has lost everything. We just closed on their home just barely 2 weeks ago and now it’s a total loss. I know insurance will help, but we’d also like to help replace what we can. We are collecting donations to be turned into gift cards to various multi-purpose stores (Marshalls, Walmart, Target, etc).”
People can make donations via Venmo @Jordan-Pehowic or by messaging her directly at (850) 612-2824.