VENICE, Fla. (NewsNation Now) — Multiple fire crews responded to an explosion in Venice, Florida.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office says a home was engulfed in flames and several neighbors have been evacuated, according to NewsNation affiliate WFLA.
The flames burned two victims who were able to tell first responders they were refilling ammunition with gun powder before the fire started. That turned out to be life-saving information for firefighters and those living nearby.
Benny Cararo runs Benny’s Bada Bing Pizza and Pasta across the street and says when the ammunition started going off he told his customers to get inside.
“I ran inside and I said grab your pizza, come inside, the customers, and we heard them all going off inside the store. Sounded like a war. It did,” Cararo said.
After several hours crews were able to get the fire under control.
Authorities have not released the names of the victims. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
NewsNation affiliate WFLA contributed to this report.