Ceramic Heaters Blamed For Fire That Destroyed Home


TITUSVILLE, Fla. -- Eyewitness News has new details about a fire that
destroyed a three-story home in Titusville. The woman who lived there
had ceramic heaters and those heaters somehow started the fire. She used
the special heaters to protect her orchids.

An insurance adjuster was at the scene surveying the damage to the
$670,000, waterfront home. The inside has partially collapsed and the
back is virtually gone.

Firefighters helped the Ward family move some of their belongings out of
their home to keep the antiques and valuables from getting any more
damaged inside the charred remains of what was a picturesque home.

Fire investigators believe the blaze started with an electrical fire.
Authorities said it appears heat lamps used to keep orchids warm in the
cool temperatures were at the root of the fire.

The home is owned by Laura Ward, a community activist who helped lead
the battle against developers to protect the waterfront her home sits on
from an influx of developers looking to build high-rise condominium
complexes.

Coincidentally, when Ward’s home caught fire, she was at the fire
department, where the city was holding its council meeting and she was
preparing to address city leaders about ongoing issues. When word spread
about the fire, the meeting was interrupted and she raced home.

Firefighters said the inside of the home was destroyed. Ward told
friends the fire not only ruined her home, but she lost valuable
antiques and family heirlooms.

By the time firefighters arrived, there were flames shooting through the
second and third story of the home. They said there was little they
could do with strong winds coming off the Indian River.

Fortunately, no one was injured.