Lightning is likely to blame for a huge fire at a Largo home Wednesday night. No one was hurt.

  • Lightning strike sparks fire at 6,000-square-foot home in Largo
  • No injuries reported
  • Fire left huge hole in roof of home

According to Largo Fire Rescue, the fire broke out just after 9:30 p.m. at a three-story, 6,000-square-foot home on Shoreline Drive, just west of the Bayside Bridge.


(Photo: Sky 9)

Authorities said the female homeowner was home with her daughter when a possible lightning strike hit the roof. The resulting flames spread across the roof, leaving a gaping hole.

"Very scary,” said Lily Competelli, a seventh-grader who escaped the fire with her mother. “Just watching your house burst into flames, it was really hard to watch."

"They got out and 10 minutes later, the house exploded and I wasn’t here," said Lily’s father, Tony Competelli. "We have a gas fireplace up there and it exploded and all the windows popped out and then the front door popped out right after they got downstairs."

"Me and my mom just ran out of the house, didn’t really grab anything because we needed to get out of there as soon as possible," said Lily.

Mike Competelli, a nephew who lived with the family but wasn’t home, said the house is a total loss.

"They’re saying that the stairs could come down and the top floor is kinda gone and in my room, you can see the sky. So it’s pretty bad, the whole roof’s caved in," said Mike Competelli.

With the extensive fire and damage, the family is thankful everyone is OK.

"Yeah, it’s terrible but my wife and my daughter’s safe, so that’s all that matters," said Tony Competelli.

Firefighters from multiple agencies, including Safety Harbor, Clearwater and Dunedin, fought the flames for about an hour.

The roof collapsed during the fire.

Officials said the fire is under investigation, it could be about a week before the cause is officially released.