Man Accused of Intentionally Setting Fire That Killed 15 Dogs

Case details

GENEVA, Fla. (WESH) - Authorities in Florida are investigating a house fire that left at least 15 dogs dead. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office says the man who lived in the home intentionally set the fire. New body camera video shows deputies and firefighters responding to a fully engulfed house on Snow Hill Road in Geneva on Monday. At least 17 dogs were inside. “Got one dog. The other ones are on the front cooked in the cage. They’re all upside down,” one responder said. 911 calls captured people describing what they saw and heard. “There’s a fire. It’s fully engulfed. We were just driving by. There are dogs inside. There’s barking. It’s really bad,” one caller said. In a separate 911 call, barking continued without stopping. “Oh no, look at them. They are trying to go inside to get their babies ... they have a bunch of bullies,” the caller said. On Monday, investigators found six dead dogs inside the house. “Oh, it is so sad. The puppies are dead. Oh my God,” a caller said. Animal services took in four more dogs, two of which died Monday night. On Tuesday, seven more dogs were found. The sheriff’s office says Terrance Banks set his own house on fire by pouring gasoline on the floor in every room of the house. He then used a lighter to light a piece of paper on fire, which he used to ignite the gasoline. Banks’ father can be heard calling 911 as he headed to his son’s home. “I got a call from my son. I’m not there, but he rents the place, so I don’t know,” he said. On Tuesday, a judge ordered that Banks remain in jail until he is mentally evaluated. A neighbor who did not want to show his face or use his name for safety reasons spoke about Banks. “He would normally try to keep to himself. I know he would not allow anybody other than, you know, the family he was with, approach the dogs,” the neighbor said. The neighbor said it was clear Banks had some type of mental health issue. “He would parade across the street from my house up and down and he would just be babbling on,” the neighbor said. One of the two surviving dogs is now in the care of an emergency veterinarian for specialized treatment.

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Case timeline

1. 2026-09-28

   Arrest / Charges Reported

   GENEVA, Fla. (WESH) - Authorities in Florida are investigating a house fire that left at least 15 dogs dead. The Seminole County Sheriff’s Office says the man who lived in the home intentionally set the fire. New body camera video shows deputies and firefighters responding to a fully engulfed house on Snow Hill Road in Geneva on Monday. At least 17 dogs were inside.

   Charged