Fire destroyed a rural home on County Road 101 north of Bison Valley Wednesday afternoon.
Six firetrucks from the Villages Public Safety Department were called to the scene in addition to one truck from Sumter County Fire Rescue.
Off-duty personnel from Villages Public Safety spotted the fire at about 2:30 p.m. The fire spread rapidly and a large plume of gray smoke was visible for miles around.
No one was home at the time of the blaze, said Villages Public Safety Chief Edmund Cain.
When firefighters arrived, the house was already 40 to 50 percent involved, Cain said.
Fire was soon shooting through the roof.
The house, located at 12427 County Road 101, is located directly across from the United Church of Christ. The cause of the blaze is under investigation.
One firefighter from Villages Public Safety had to be taken to The Villages Regional Hospital for treatment of heat-related issues, Cain said.
