Person found dead after Sarasota County home burns

SARASOTA COUNTY — A neighbor in Sarasota's Covington Place subdivision tried to check a burning home for the woman who lived there, but after accessing the house Sunday afternoon was repelled by intense heat and smoke, residents said.

Neighbors poured into the street during the fire, said Tonja Hofmann, who lives nearby.

"There was so much smoke he couldn't go in so far — at least he tried," said Hofmann of her neighbor's efforts. "You don't want to jeopardize your own family if you have a wife and kids."

The man, who declined to talk to the Herald-Tribune, also called 911, Hofmann said.

Rescuers arrived 10 minutes later. There were about a dozen emergency vehicles, police, and other agencies, she said.

Deputies and firefighters responded to the fire at 5418 New Covington Drive at about 4:30 p.m., according to the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, when the home was engulfed in flames. Firefighters put out the fire in 26 minutes without damage to surrounding homes.

But after the state Fire Marshall sifted through the home, an unidentified adult was found inside, the Sheriff's Office reported.

Hofmann said she had never been so close to a house fire and said her neighbors, who are often come out in the evenings for walks, were worried about the homeowner, whose body was discovered around 8 p.m.

"Everyone watches everybody," Hofmann said about the close-knit street. "It's so hot, so not a lot of people are outside and walking. Luckily, that one neighbor heard the alarm going off to see the fire to call 911. Even if I walk my dogs, it's quiet.

"It was scary, I got goosebumps. I'm really sorry the lady was in there and couldn't be saved."

The Sarasota County Property Appraiser's website said the single-family home was 2,354 square feet, with stucco walls and poured concrete walls. It was a three-bedroom, two-bath home built in 2001.

The listed owner has owned the 0.16-acre property since 2011, according the deed.

The case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 941-861-4900 or leave an anonymous tip with Crime Stoppers at 941-366-TIPS or at sarasotacrimestoppers.com.