Crews from four fire departments battled a blaze Tuesday night that destroyed a Fruitland Park residence.
Fruitland Park firefighters received the call at 6:59 p.m. and arrived at the mobile home, located at 1837 Miller Blvd., with minutes. The structure was fully involved with flames when the crew from Fruitland Park’s Engine 56 and Chief Donald Gilpin pulled up in front of the residence.
A man and woman escaped from the residence as the fire was quickly spreading. Neither was injured but after the blaze was extinguished, the woman said she hadn’t yet found her three cats. Gilpin said he had been told the cats had escaped the blaze and firefighters were going to help the couple look for them.
Gilpin said the blaze appears to have started in the kitchen of the home. He said one of the homeowners, who was cooking prior to the fire starting, reporting going outside and coming back in to find flames in the kitchen area, which was located on the back side of the structure.
Gilpin said several witnesses also reported seeing the fire in the back corner of the residence before it quickly spread throughout the home. He said the State Fire Marshal has been called to conduct an investigation.
The woman stood outside after the blaze shaking her head. She said she was happy to escape even though she “lost everything.” She pointed out that her vehicle wasn’t damaged but added that her keys were somewhere in the fire debris.
In addition to the Fruitland Park Fire Department, units from The Villages Public Safety Department, Lake County Fire Rescue and Leesburg Fire Rescue responded to the blaze. Lake County also sent a water tanker and a Leesburg battalion chief responded.
A Lake EMS ambulance was on scene and medics were seen checking at least one firefighter’s blood pressure as he came out from fighting the blaze in the hot temperatures. Fruitland Park Police officers also responded and blocked traffic along County Road 466A at Spring Lake Road and Valley Road.
