Weather is to blame for a Citrus County house fire that has left a mom and her three kids without a home.

Fire investigators say lightning from strong storms is probably the cause of the blaze.

Amber Chadwick and her family lost just about everything thanks to a fire that ripped through their home on Sunday. Walking around the home Monday, Chadwick tried to hold back the tears.


Amber Chadwick and her 7-year-old son, Ryan, walk around their Hernando home in shock.

"Try to be strong for the kids, but it is hard," she said.

The inside of the home is a charred mess and the roof is about to collapse. Amber has two other kids and nobody was hurt, but now she has no idea what's next.

"We have a car, that's it," she said. "So everything is gone."


Chadwick and her kids weren't home at the time of the fire. Three dogs and a cat were able to make it out of the house alive.

Investigators say the fire was probably started by lightning when heavy storms rolled through the area Sunday evening. Chadwick and her kids weren't home at the time, but her neighbors were.

"It was lightning, yeah," Chadwick said. "One of the neighbors said she saw it hit the house and another one heard it."

School started last week and Chadwick said her kids back to school clothes and supplies are gone. Her 7-year-old son, Ryan is worried about everything.

"I don't know where we are going to live at all," he said.

"Seeing your house on fire, it is devastating," Chadwick said.

Three dogs and a cat were able to make it out of the house alive.