A pesky squirrel turned a Florida family\u2019s life upside down after the critter chewed through electrical wiring, sparking a fire that left their home a charred shell.<\/p>\n
Donnie Banta and Stacey Davis were sleeping with their children and pets inside their Panama City home on Jan. 31 when a strange noise and burning smell from the attic jolted them awake, WMBB<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were all asleep, and I heard the breaker flip in the back,\u201d Banta said.<\/p>\n Donnie Banta and Stacey Davis were asleep with their children and pets in their Panama City home on Jan. 31 when a fire broke out. Greg & Ginny Garner\/GoFundMe<\/p>\n \u201cSo I got up to see what the noise was, and I heard rustling in the attic, and I could smell an electrical odor.\u201d<\/p>\n When the mother of two realized there was a fire, she scurried to get everyone out of the house safely.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was very frantic. We were scrambling, trying to wake everybody up and get them all out,\u201d Davis recalled.<\/p>\n Panama City firefighters rushed to the scene and were able to contain the inferno, but the home was completely destroyed.<\/p>\n Banta told the outlet that officials determined a squirrel was the culprit behind the fire, which reduced the home \u2014 and all of the family\u2019s prized possessions and valuables \u2014 to rubble.<\/p>\n Panama City firefighters rushed to the scene and were able to contain the inferno, but the home was completely destroyed. Greg & Ginny Garner\/GoFundMe<\/p>\n \u201cThey said a squirrel got into the attic and chewed on some wires and shorted it out, and that\u2019s what started the fire,\u201d Banta said.<\/p>\n