Occupant rescued, hospitalized due to Crystal River home fire, complicated by clutter and debris

Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR)

Crystal River, Florida – At 3:21 am on Monday, February 3, 2025, Citrus County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a home located on W Milwe Ln. in Crystal River, due to a reported fire.

While fire rescue personnel were enroute to the home, the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Communications Center advised fire crews that they'd had communication with the home's occupant, who was still inside the residence.

Fire rescue arrived on scene to find a 2,700 square-foot, concrete block home with heavy smoke coming from the eaves. Heavy fire was located in a corner of the home, which appeared to be the master bedroom. Smoke was found throughout the entire home.

Entry was made into the home by way of the locked front door. Firefighters began fire suppression with a handline.

Extreme clutter and debris made the search and hose line movement difficult, however, the occupant was located and safely extricated from the residence to medical personnel on scene. The rescued occupant was transported to a hospital for medical evaluation.

A secondary search was conducted to confirm that no additional victims were inside the home, and none were located; a neighbor confirmed that only one person lives in the home.

The fire was brought under control at 3:35 am. The home was overhauled and ventilated, and the last unit cleared the scene at 8:32 am. The scene was turned over to the Florida State Fire Marshal for further investigation.

Fire Safety Tips:
• Maintain clear pathways throughout your home to allow safe evacuation and emergency access.
• Ensure smoke alarms are installed and functioning in all sleeping areas, hallways, and every level of the home. Test them monthly and replace batteries as needed.
• Have an escape plan, with two ways out of every room. Review and practice your safety plan regularly.

IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, CALL 9-1-1.

Citrus County Fire Rescue Contact Information:
Business Office Location: 1520 N. Meadowcrest Blvd.. Crystal River, Florida 34429;
Non-Emergency Phone: (352) 527-5406.
Website: www.CitrusCountyFire.com
Social Media: x.com/CitrusCoFire and Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue