A Brevard County father is facing child neglect charges after the State Fire Marshal said he left his 7-year-old son home alone during a fire early Sunday morning.

The child was able to escape without injuries, but the father is facing big trouble.

"The flames were real high," said Veneshia Thomas, a neighbor. "They could see the flames from (I-95)."

The State Fire Marshal's Office said the boy was left alone in the home, which is located on the corner of Lake View Boulevard and North Denton Circle, in Cocoa.

"I looked out of my window, and I saw the boy running down the street," neighbor Devon Peoples said. "So, I walked out because when I looked out the window, I saw him and then I looked and I saw the fire."

Firefighters said the boy ran about a half of a mile to a nearby Kangaroo convenience store, where he got help from Sheriff's Office deputies. His 13-year-old sister, who was staying with their grandmother, is relieved her brother was able to escape the blaze.

"(We) used to walk to the store a couple of times together, and I'm pretty happy that we did because if not, he wouldn't have made it to the store by himself," Tamiah Martin said.

The boy was left home alone for about 1.5 hours, according to the State Fire Marshal's Office, who arrested the child's father, identified as Richard Hill Jr., 34.

Hill claimed he was walking to an IHOP at the time.

The home has been without power since Friday, and so candles have been used to provide light. It was a candle in the boy's bedroom that ultimately burned down the house. The house has been deemed a total loss.

The Department of Children and Families has been called in. DCF placed the 7-year-old boy into the protection of the father's girlfriend, which has the mother and maternal grandmother upset.

They argue that the girlfriend is responsible for leaving the boy home alone as well, and have no idea of the child's whereabouts.

The mother, who lives in Cocoa Beach, is not happy with DCF.

Hill is expected to make a first appearance at the Brevard County Jail on Monday afternoon.