(Photos: Ocala Fire Rescue)
An explosion rocked the Classic Laundromat at 1423 NE 25th Ave. in Ocala at approximately 6:19 p.m. on Tuesday evening, injuring four individuals and causing significant structural damage.
Ocala Fire Rescue swiftly responded to the emergency, deploying Engines 1, 2, and 5, Ladder 3, Rescues 3 and 5, Tower 1, Battalion Chiefs 11 and 22, and a Safety Officer to the scene. Rescue 3 was the first to arrive, discovering smoke and flames emanating from the single-level commercial structure that houses multiple shops.
Medics promptly assessed the injured, providing immediate care and transporting two of the four injured individuals to a nearby hospital for further treatment. Firefighters worked diligently to control the fire at the rear of the building while rescue teams conducted search operations to ensure no one was trapped inside.
Following the fire’s extinguishment, inspectors deemed the laundromat and seven adjacent shops unsafe for regular operations, highlighting the extensive impact of the incident. Traffic along NE 25th Ave. was disrupted, with diversions set up at NE 14th Street to facilitate the emergency response.
Multiple agencies, including the Ocala Police Department, Ocala Electric Utility, Ocala Water Resources, Ocala Building Department, Marion County Fire Rescue, and TECO Gas, were on site to assist. The Deputy Chief and the Prevention Division also coordinated efforts on the ground.
Investigations into the cause of the explosion are ongoing, led by the State Fire Marshal’s office and Ocala Fire Rescue Inspectors.
