UPDATED: Two buildings on fire at Fero Funeral Home, Beverly Hills, Feb. 16; no injuries
Photo on left by CCSO and later in the day (middle and right) by CCFR.
Firefighters arrived to find heavy smoke coming from the eaves and live power lines down on the right side of the building. Employees of the funeral home reported that everyone had safely evacuated the building.
Firefighters entered the bilding and initiated an offensive attack and also learned that a second structure, south of the main structure, was also reported to be on fire, so a second alarm was initiated to request additional units be dispatched to the scene. The second structure fire was under control at 11:56 am and all additional units then reportedreport to the first structure. fire, which appeared to be contained to the attic, and a partial roof collapse was noted at 12:03 pm. Due to the conditions, all personnel were ordered to evacuate the structure at 12:09 pm, and all personnel were accounted for by 12:14 pm, and at hat time, he exterior conditions began to improve. Searches revealed that no one was inside the first structure. The power company arrived on scene and secured all power to both structures. The initial fire was under control at 12:24 pm, and the last unit cleared the scene at 3:26 pm.
No injuries were reported. The primary sructure sustained approximately 80% damage, and the second structure sustained approximately 10% damage. The Florida State Fire Marshal was provided with information to investigate the cause and origin of the fire, which is believed to be accidental.
Firefighters from the Pine Ridge, DeRosa, Homosassa, Kensington, Connell Heights, Hernando, Citrus Springs, and Sugarmill Woods fire stations responded to the fires, along with two battalion chiefs, three chief officers, a fire marshal, a safety captain, and the Rehab Unit from the Citrus Springs Fire Station.
Contact Citrus County Fire Rescue by phone at 352-527-5526. Or visit online at
www.citrusbocc.com/departments/fire_rescue/index.php, Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue, or Twitter.com/citruscofire.
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Beverly Hills, Florida - Firefighters with Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) and deputies with the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) were on the scene of a fire in Beverly Hills, about noon on Wednesday, February 16. The fire is located at Fero Funeral Home with Crematory, located at 5955 N. Lecanto Hwy. (CR 491) in Beverly Hills. At the time of the initial report, CR 491 was heavily congested with traffic between W. Hampshire Blvd. and N. Deltona Blvd. and no injuries were reported, according to the CCSO. No further details are available as of this time.