HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Three people escaped a house fire, thanks to a person walking by who alerted the people inside and helped put out the flames with a garden hose.

It happened Friday morning in the 3200 block of Harrow Road in Spring Hill.

The homeowner woke to the person's yells to get out. The intense heat destroyed several items inside the house.

Hernando County Fire Rescue responded just after 7 a.m. and is still investigating the fire's cause.

Tom Jones, the homeowner, said he thinks the fire started from an outlet next to a couch.

He said he wasn't able to meet the person who helped put out the fire but thanked the person for saving their lives. 

The American Red Cross is assisting Jones and his family since the home was badly damaged.