Dog perishes in Christnas Day fire in Crystal River, FL
Crystal River, Florida - At 10:37 am on Sunday, December 25, 2022, Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) responded to a residence on S. Ozello Trail in Crystal River due to the report of a fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a single wide mobile home fully involved with fire.
A 360 degree scan of the property revealed damage to a power pole and two nearby exposures in danger. Crews were advised of the power pole hazard, and it was marked with cones. Utility companies were requested to respond to the location to secure the utilities. A defensive attack was established for the fire and to protect the exposures.
All occupants of the residence had safely self-evacuated; however, one dog was reported as missing. Once the fire was under control, searches were completed, and the missing dog was located, deceased. Per the owner’s request, fire crew members buried the dog in the yard. The fire was brought under control as of 11:05 am, and the last unit cleared the scene at 12:46 pm.
One exposure, a two-story single family residence located approximately 40 feet from the main fire building, sustained minimal heat damage to the second story siding. Owners of the exposed residence were not home at the time and were notified of the damage.
The property owner advised that a candle had caught the blinds on fire and grown too quickly to be extinguished. The structure was uninsured, and the cause of the fire appeared to be accidental. No injuries were reported. Damages were estimated at a total loss for property and contents. The homeowner declined assistance from the American Red Cross.
Firefighters from the Sugarmill Woods, Connell Heights, Kensington, Highlands, Citrus Springs, and DeRosa fire stations assisted with the fire, along with a Safety Captain.
Citrus County Fire Rescue can be contacted by phone at (352) 527-5406, or 911 within Citrus County, Florida in the event of an emergency. Visit online at www.CitrusCountyFire.com, Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue, or Twitter.com/CitrusCoFire.