A Gainesville man will need to find a new place to stay Sunday evening after an early morning fire destroyed his house.

When fire crews arrived shortly before 9 a.m., flames were already shooting through the roof of the home, which is located at 2327 NW 69th Terrace.

Firefighters used a 17 man crew to douse the blaze.

"We think the fire may have started in the garage, but it burned up through the attic and ran through out the entire roof line of the house which presented a problem for us," Alachua County Fire Chief Ed Kennedy said.

Neighbors can't do anything but stare at the structure that's now burnt to the core.

"Craig's a good friend of mine and was just devastating for all of us," Neighbor Al Clements said. "The neighborhood is gonna come together now and we'll all help Craig any way we can, furnish, clothes, anything he needs."

No one was home at the time of the fire.

Fire officials say the home was a total loss. Officials say the family's two cats died in the fire.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Red cross has been contacted to help. Organizers are taking donations for the victim. If anyone wishes to help, call 352-215-5295.