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One person missing after fire collapses home in New Port Richey

 
(from left) Wanda O'Donnell, Marco Davis, and Kasey O'Donnell barely escaped the fire. In Pasco County, firefighters battled a blaze late Tuesday that consumed a home at 5540 Leisure Lane in New Port Richey.
(from left) Wanda O'Donnell, Marco Davis, and Kasey O'Donnell barely escaped the fire. In Pasco County, firefighters battled a blaze late Tuesday that consumed a home at 5540 Leisure Lane in New Port Richey.
Published Oct. 11, 2017

NEW PORT RICHEY — Bruce Hansen ran out to a nearby pharmacy and gas station shortly before 6 p.m. on Tuesday when he noticed smoke coming from the vicinity of his home.

He tried calling his wife, Cherie Hansen, 57, but got no answer. Then he hurried back to the house, which was engulfed in flames.

"I don't know what happened," said Bruce Hansen, 60. "I don't know if she got out."

One woman remained missing after the second floor of the home at 5540 Leisure Lane in New Port Richey collapsed into the first Tuesday night, Pasco County officials said. They couldn't confirm the missing person was Cherie Hansen.

Pasco County and New Port Richey firefighters ordered in heavy equipment to help dig through what was left of the two-story wood and block home located near Gulf Boulevard and U.S. 19. The State Fire Marshal had arson dogs at the house, which is standard during a death investigation, said Pasco County Fire Rescue Staff Chief Shawn Whited.

"We're treating it as (a death investigation) until we can get confirmation," Whited said. "All arrows point to she's still in that building, but we can't get in there to find her" until the equipment arrives, he said.

Wanda O'Donnell, 54, escaped from the first floor of the home with her roommate, Marco Davis, 40, and her 20-year-old daughter, Kasey O'Donnell. In Davis' arms was a chihuahua puppy, Gangster. But they were unable to locate another chihuahua, Pinky, before they escaped.

"If we stayed five minutes later, we would have been dead," said Wanda O'Donnell. "We lost everything."

It was not immediately clear if the burning home was a single-family residence or included apartments.