Sarasota mansion heavily damaged in fire

SARASOTA, Fla. - Dozens of firefighters battled a blaze at a large waterfront home in Sarasota early Saturday morning. 

The fire broke out at the 10,000 square-foot house at 374 S. Shore Drive around 2:30 a.m. 

According to Sarasota County fire officials, more than 75 firefighters responded to the scene, which was considered a four-alarm fire. 

The fire was so intense, residents who lived streets away could smell the smoke.

"At least 10 feet, a spewing flame ten feet. I came out an hour and a half later, and I could still see smoke emanating from that house, and the fire department's enormous ladder with water spewing from the hose and someone on top of the ladder, it was quite a sight," described Lionel Olmer, a resident who lives across the cove.

From the street, the extent of the damage was hard to tell, but officials said it was significant. 

"The fire was heavily involved inside the structure. There's a lot of damage inside, and we're still ascertaining how much of the building was saved versus lost," said Chief Michael Regnier with the Sarasota County Fire Department. 

Fortunately, no one was injured and the residents of the home were able to escape. 

As of 1:30 p.m., fire crews had spent 11 hours at the scene making sure that the fire is fully knocked down. 

The cause of the fire is under investigation.