Sarasota home destroyed following 3-alarm fire

SARASOTA, Fla. - More than 40 firefighters fought a three-alarm fire in Sarasota Monday afternoon.

Crews were called to the 1000 block of Ponder Avenue around 11:45 a.m.

READ: 1 dead, 2 injured after fire destroys St. Petersburg home

"I had antiques, I had swords, I had antique guns and books worth over a thousand dollars. Stamp collection I lost that. Coin collection I lost that," said James Ward. 

James Ward is the homeowner and calls himself a collector.

"Everybody says I have a lot of stuff which I do," he said.

Ward lived in the home his grandfather built 50 years ago. He said there was a reason for his collection. 

"I had a lot of stuff because I pick up and distribute clothes to needy families, I also haul scrap metal and I sell things once in a while to get a couple of extra bucks because I’m broke," he said. 

As Ward was out hauling scrap metal, he received a phone call that his home on Ponder Avenue was on fire. 

Neighbor Richard Strong captured video as crews responded. 

Cracks and pops can be heard in the background. 

"We did have a variety size of explosions during the firefight operations, but we haven’t been able to determine what caused those," said Assistant Chief Travis Dagenis with the Sarasota County Fire Department. 

Records with Sarasota County’s Clerk of Court showed violations in 2016 and again in 2023 for improper outdoor storage of items. 

In 2017, Sarasota County cleared up Ward’s property. A Vietnam veteran, at 77 years old Ward said he just recovered rom prostate cancer and now he’s unsure of how he will go on.

"Now I have nothing. If anybody wants to help me, I‘d appreciate it," he said.

The State Fire Marshall has been called in to determine how the fire started.

No injuries were reported.