OCALA, Fla. – Ocala firefighters put out a burning abandoned home Tuesday night.
Crews responded around 8:25 p.m. to the 1600 block of SW Third Street after a passerby reported that the home was engulfed in flames, Ocala Fire Rescue said in a statement.
Firefighters deemed the structure about 60% engulfed when they arrived, reporting flames were visible from the roof and heavy smoke was pouring from the attic, the statement reads.
Fire crews, including Engines 1, 3, and 4, Squad 7, Rescue 1, and Battalion Chiefs 11 and 22, responded. Engine 1 and Squad 7 began a fire attack from the interior, while Rescue 1 conducted a primary search to ensure no one was inside. Battalion Chief 11 established command, and Battalion Chief 22 conducted a 360-degree assessment of the structure before serving as the safety officer at the rear of the building, monitoring the fire conditions closely.
Engine 4 secured a nearby hydrant and supplied water to Engine 1, later initiating an exterior attack on the flames. Engine 3 assisted by removing metal security bars from the windows to facilitate access to the fire area and providing fire suppression support.
Ocala Fire Rescue
The fire was called under control within about 20 minutes and no injuries were reported, according to the release.
The home had no power and no occupants when it caught fire, the release sates.
The cause of the fire was still undetermined at the time of this writing, according to the release.
Ocala Fire Rescue was joined at the scene by the Ocala Police Department, Ocala Electric Utility, Marion County Fire Rescue, and the Prevention Division, the release states.