BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — A camper was engulfed in flames in Cuyler Wednesday morning, killing a 13-year-old girl inside. Neighbors watched in horror, unable to contact 911.
“My husband went to the kitchen, and he just hollered out for me to come," said Carrie Keith, who lives behind where the camper caught fire.
When Keith got to the kitchen, she was shocked to see the fire just on the other side of their fence. She said she couldn’t believe how fast their neighbor’s camper went up in flames.
“We tried calling 911, but we don’t have service out here," said Keith.
Keith was relieved to hear the sirens just moments later.
Baker County Fire Rescue says the fire may have been caused by a space heater.
The department says several people made it out, but a 13-year-old girl didn’t.
"My heart goes out to the family, especially this time of year," said Keith. "If there's anything we can do for them, we're right across the fence."
Keith says she enjoys living away from the hustle and bustle, but the helpless feeling of not having enough service to get 911 in an emergency has stuck with her.
“Makes you wonder and think about if we had an emergency and not being able to call someone, especially in the middle of the night," said Keith.
Four people were killed in a fire last month just about a mile up the road. Cell service to call 911 was an issue with that fire, too.