HOLT, Fla., Dec. 13, 2023—A fire yesterday evening destroyed a home on Springtime Avenue here.

The residents were not home at the time; however, one pet died.

Holt Fire District responded to the call about 6:30 p.m. with Baker and Harold Fire Districts and Crestview Fire Department assisting with the emergency.

The residents were out of the house at the time of the fire.

According to on-scene commander Holt Fire Chief Scott Chestnut, before leaving, they put one dog in the kennel in the bedroom, then left to get a bite to eat. While they were out, the fire started, apparently in the bedroom.

A next-door neighbor saw the flames and notified 911, according to Chestnut. Another neighbor released the dogs on leashes outside the residence to get them away from the fire.

Upon inspection of the remains of the house after the fire was extinguished, “the fire was determined to be an unintentional accident,” said Chestnut.

After speaking with the resident, Chestnut determined the probable cause was from from an electronic cigarette, or vape pen, that was left on the bed.

A battery from a vape pen was blamed for a fire in a dorm room at the University of Southern Maine in September. The cause was an overheated lithium-ion battery from the pen.

Lithium-ion batteries are pervasive in a number of rechargeable household items: tools, toys, cameras, laptop computers, smart phones and electronic cigarettes. When a lithium-ion battery overheats, it can ignite or explode.

By 9:30 p.m. or so, the team of firefighters had everything taken care of, according to Chestnut.

Okaloosa County EMS and Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office also assisted with the call.