CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. — A week ago, a large fire coming from a first-floor apartment unit in Coral Springs caught the attention of neighbors.

The fire started in the unit of Tavaras Calvin. Fortunately, neither Calvin, his wife nor their children were home at the time.

“Thankfully we weren’t home,” Calvin said. “Obviously the material things we’re not concerned about. Everything can be replaced. It’s just a disheartening feeling to see what you do call home go up in flames.”

Calvin said fire marshals believe the battery from his son’s Power Wheels toy car may have sparked the fire.

“The fire inspector said because we don’t have anything electronic out here. That as literally the only thing. And it wasn’t even connected to actually toy. But the power wheel battery they’ve been known to be faulty and catch fire and trigger something. He said it possibly could have been the heat we don’t know,” he said.

According to Calvin, the fire shattered the patio window before spreading quickly through the inside of the two-bedroom unit, burning everything in its path.

Calvin, his wife and their four children -- ages 9, 6, 5 and 3 -- recently booked a hotel room so they could reunite as a family after spending the last week living apart to stay close to work.

“I’m just thankful we weren’t home and no one got hurt and we’re all safe,” Calvin said. “That’s the most important thing.”

The American Red Cross Broward County chapter has been helping the family. Calvin said the organization has provided financial assistance.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

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