Hernando fire determined accidental; no injuries reported

Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR)

Hernando, Florida – At 7:19 pm on Sunday evening, February 16, 2025, Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) responded to a residence located on N. Custer Terrace in Hernando, Florida due to a reported fire.

First responders arrived at the location at 7:23 p.m. to find a 1,000 square-foot concrete block residence with flames showing from the windows on one side of the residence.

The tenant’s father told a Battalion Chief that all occupants had already evacuated from the residence. Searches confirmed that no occupants remained inside the residence. The power was still active, and was shut off at the breaker. A hose line was used to fully extinguish the fire and conduct overhaul operations. Prior to additional units arriving on scene, a garden hose was also used to prevent the fire from spreading. After the fire was suppressed, the home was ventilated, and mop-up and overhaul operations were conducted. The last unit cleared the scene at 8:55 p.m.

Firefighters found that windows had been broken, and the front door had been forced open, as a result of the tenant’s father throwing bricks through the windows to assist in extinguishing the fire, and another person forcing open the front door to ensure that children had escaped from the home.

The loss of the home and its contents was estimated at $50,000. The fire was determined as unintentional and accidental. Victim advocate services were requested to assist the tenant's family in the aftermath of the fire.

Notably, no smoke detectors were present in the home. Citrus County Fire Rescue stresses the importance of having working smoke detectors in all homes, as they provide early warning in the event of a fire, and can save lives. If you need assistance obtaining or installing a smoke detector, CCFR offers resources to help by calling (352) 527-5406.

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