Firefighters in Marion County and Ocala rescued a family of three and pets in two separate blazes that broke Tuesday morning.
The first fire was reported shortly before 8 a.m. Marion County Fire Rescue crews quickly responded and are being credited with saving a family of three and their pet from the burning home.
Firefighters responded to the structure fire in the 8000 block of SE 89th Place in the Silver Springs Shores area of Ocala after a 911 caller reported seeing smoke coming from the kitchen of his neighbor’s home. The man told a dispatcher that he had pounded on the front door of the house but no one answered.
Silver Springs Shores Engine Company 17 arrived on scene at 7:52 a.m. and firefighters quickly forced entry into the home, where they were met with moderately heavy smoke. They searched the residence and located two adults and one child sleeping in their beds, as well as the family dog named Lilly, a report says, adding that there were no injuries.
The cause of the fire was determined to be the oven in the kitchen. The home had two smoke detectors installed, however, it isn’t known if they were working. Firefighters remained on scene for an extended period of time to ventilate the structure and were quick to praise the 911 caller for helping to save his neighbors’ lives.
Later Tuesday morning, Marion County Engine 15 was dispatched as the closest available unit to a structure fire in the Wagon Wheel Mobile Home Park in Ocala.
Other crews from both Marion County and Ocala Fire Rescue also responded to the 11:30 a.m. blaze in the 1600 Block of NE 25th Ave. Engine 15 was returning to its zone in the Salt Springs area from Marion County Fire Logistics in Ocala when its crew was sent to the fire.
Engine 15 arrived on scene in a little more than two minutes to find the mobile home approximately 50 percent involved in flames. Firefighters began an initial attack on the fire and additional Ocala Fire Rescue crews arrived a short time later and worked to extinguish the blaze.
When crews first arrived, they found a family of five, their pets and a guest standing outside the burning mobile home. Paramedics from Marion County Fire Rescue administered oxygen to a kitten that was saved from the burning structure and the animal was being evaluated by a veterinarian, a report says.
After firefighters completed a primary search of the residence to ensure that everyone was out of the burning structure, they attacked the fire toward the back of the home. They also discovered flames underneath the mobile home and were able to extinguish them after breaking through the floor.
The cause of the blaze remains under investigation. Assistance for the residents was requested from the American Red Cross and officers from the Ocala Police Department also offered assistance during the fire.
