BRANDON, Fla. — Hillsborough County fire investigators are looking into what caused a major house fire that severely damaged a home in Brandon.

What You Need To Know

  •  A Friday morning fire severely damaged a home in Brandon

  •  According to fire officials, the fire broke just out after 10 a.m. 

  •  Neighbors say the flames and smoke lasted for more than 30 minutes before the fire was eventually put out

  • The cause of the fire is still being investigated

Neighbors and officials say it broke out in a home on Derbywood Drive after 10 a.m. Friday.

No one was injured, but officials say the home is now uninhabitable.

Area resident Juan Santana said he was looking forward to a relatively easy end of the week, and the last thing he expected Friday morning was a knock on the door from the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.

 “We was in the house getting ready to come out and the sheriff's department come knocking on the door telling us that we need to evacuate the house because the house next door was on fire,” Santana said. “The fire was all the way to the pine tree and everything it was, like, a big fire.”

Hours after the flames were put out, investigators with the county were blocking off the home and assessing the damage along with the woman who told Spectrum News she was leasing the property.

She didn’t want to speak with Bay News 9 on camera, but said there were seven people living here and, thankfully, no one was hurt in the fire.

Because of the wind’s direction, Santana's house wasn’t impacted, other than his water being turned off.

 “There is no damage to the property, but the neighbor’s house is completely wasted,” Santana said.

Investigators said they are still to determine the cause of the fire.