Coquina Key House Fire: What We Know So Far

A house fire in St. Petersburg’s Coquina Key area left one 18-year-old woman dead and three others injured, and officials are treating the blaze as a suspicious criminal case, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and St. Petersburg police.

Fire crews responded around 3:30 a.m. to a single-story home where four people were trapped inside and found the residence engulfed in heavy flames, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue. Firefighters brought the fire under control in about 30 minutes.

Officials said an 18-year-old woman died from injuries suffered in the fire. An adult woman was hospitalized with serious injuries, a 17-year-old boy was treated for minor injuries at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, and a 10-year-old girl was evaluated and reported unharmed, according to officials.

Investigators have classified the fire as suspicious, and police said they are treating it as a criminal investigation, according to St. Petersburg Fire Rescue and the St. Petersburg Police Department. Police also said they were looking for the person who intentionally set the home on fire in connection with a prior Coquina Key fire case. Later reporting said an 18-year-old suspect was charged with felony murder and attempted felony murder in connection with the fatal fire, according to Fox 13 News and IONTB.

Emergency crews from St. Petersburg Fire Rescue handled the blaze, and the response level appears consistent with a high-priority structure fire because firefighters found occupants inside and heavy flames already extending through the home. No road closures or traffic impacts were reported in the available coverage.

Dispatch records show this is one of 20,255 similar structure-fire incidents logged in the past six months.

What's next: investigators are continuing to review the fire as a suspicious incident and criminal case, and officials are expected to provide additional updates as the investigation develops.

Day.News will continue to update this story as officials release more information.

Related: Structure Fire Draws Emergency Response to 5155 Coquina Key Dr SE in Saint Petersburg