(Photos: Marion County Fire Rescue)
Late on the night of October 19, Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) responded to a residential fire on Banyan Track in Ocala, where three dogs were trapped inside. The emergency call came in at 11:09 p.m., with the homeowner reporting her backyard and porch ablaze.
Units from Rolling Greens Station #28 arrived just over a minute later, finding smoke rising from the single-story home. Rescue #528 immediately initiated a search for the trapped animals while Engine #28 deployed a hoseline and conducted a 360-degree assessment of the property. Firefighters from Silver Springs Shores Station #17, Belleview Station #18, and Anthony Station #1 arrived shortly afterward to provide backup.
Crews launched an aggressive interior attack, with additional teams ventilating the roof to relieve smoke. During the search, three dogs were found inside and safely removed from the home.
The fire was declared under control at 11:34 p.m., with no injuries reported to either residents or firefighters. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, and the American Red Cross is assisting the homeowner and her pets.
