Idalia’s floodwaters challenge crews battling St. Petersburg house fire

Fire crews rescued a homeowner from a burning house in Shore Acres on Wednesday morning and then fought the fire, but the first challenge was getting to the home surrounded by floodwater.

A resident at the home on the 6000 block of Venetian Blvd. NE noticed the fire and called for help around 9:45 a.m., according to a news release from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. By then, floodwaters from Hurricane Idalia had engulfed the neighborhood and surrounded the home.

Crews used small boats to get to the home and bring the resident to safety, then sent special teams and equipment to fight the fire. The situation “remained dynamic” Wednesday afternoon and crews were still working at the scene, the news release said.

A photo released by the fire rescue department showed flames shooting out of the home’s roof and eaves.

An updated news release issued later Wednesday said crews were able to access the house using a high-water vehicle and put out the fire using “limited equipment” and a nearby fire hydrant. The house sustained what the release said was “a significant loss.”

Investigators would work to try to figure out what caused the fire when weather conditions improve, the release said.

Fire rescue crews had plenty of other work to do Wednesday in the Shore Acres neighborhood, which is situated east of 4th Street N in the northeast part of the city.

Crews had rescued more than 75 people in that area by the afternoon, according to a post made on the city’s Instagram page.