(Photos: Ocala Fire Rescue)
It was a busy morning for Ocala Fire Rescue as firefighters battled two separate structure fires just hours apart, saving one home while another was reduced to rubble.
The first call came at 2:54 a.m. on SE First Avenue, where a shed fire had spread to a neighboring mobile home. Engines 7, 3, and 1, along with multiple rescue teams, arrived to find flames already making themselves at home. Firefighters jumped into action, securing a hydrant and ensuring no residents were inside. Thanks to their quick work, the fire was knocked down, and crews confirmed no lingering hot spots.
Barely four hours later, dispatch received another report—this time of smoke near SW 10th Avenue. Engine 1 was sent to investigate and soon spotted flames engulfing a single-story home on SW Fifth Street. At 7:04 a.m., the full firefighting force was mobilized. With a propane tank and a downed power line complicating the response, crews focused on exterior suppression efforts. The blaze was brought under control by 7:23 a.m., but the home was a total loss.
Both fires occurred in unoccupied residences, and no injuries were reported. The Fire Prevention Division is now investigating the causes of these early-morning infernos.
