S. New Hampshire Dr. Homosassa, FL residence destroyed by fire; 1 dog and 1 cat deceased; 1 cat missing
Citrus County Fire Rescue
Homosassa, Florida — At 6:06 pm on Monday, June 10, 2024, Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to S. New Hampshire Dr. in Homosassa due to a reported structure fire.
Firefighters arrived at the location to find an approximately 1,176-square-foot wooden, double wide mobile home 95% involved in fire. A defensive attack was initiated, with three lines used and a limited water supply; three additional lines was added. Water was applied to the fire at 6:18 pm, then due to the location and limited water supply, a supply line, over 1,000 feet from the roadway, utilized an engine and two tankers to shuttle water from U.S. Highway 19 and U.S. Highway 98. Despite the challenges, the fire was brought under control at 6:47 pm. A check for any remaining hot spots was completed. All units completed their assignments, and the last unit cleared the scene at 9:36 pm. No injuries were reported. The home was a total loss.
During firefighting afforts, crews were informed that two cats and one dog were potentially inside the home. An extensive overhaul was conducted to fully extinguish the fire and search for the animals. One dog and one cat were found, but they did not survive.
The homeowner reported that the fire began at the air conditioning (AC) wall unit, located on the side of the home. The homeowner attempted to extinguish the fire and rescue the animals, but was unsuccessful in their efforts. Burn patterns confirmed the fire's origin at the AC unit's receptacle. Resources were contacted for the homeowners' assistance, although it was unclear if their services will be utilized.
"Citrus County Fire Rescue extends its deepest condolences to the homeowner, for the loss of their pets, and commends the firefighters for their swift and professional response under challenging conditions," said CCFR spokesperson Cortney K. Marsh.
Firefighters from the Connell Heights, Homosassa, Sugarmill Woods, Kensington, Hernando and Citrus Springs fire stations arrived on scene, along with a Battalion Chief, a Safety Captain, the rehab unit from Citrus Springs, and a rescue unit
CALL 911 TO REPORT A FIRE
BURN BAN
Due to prolonged drought conditions, a Burn Ban was issued for all unincorporated areas of Citrus County, Florida on Friday, June 10, 2024 by Citrus County Fire Chief Craig Stevsns due to a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reading of 505. The scale ranges from 0 (no danger) to 800 (extreme danger), used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. A burn ban is activated when the reading is 500 or higher; the burn is deactivated when the reading is below 500 for 7 consecutive days.
The Burn Ban INCLUDES campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard trash, organic debris, household trash, and construction debris, and igniting fireworks.
The Burn Ban DOES NOT INCLUDE commercial burning authorized by the Florida Forest Service or outdoor cooking that is done on equipment designed to contain the fire, flame and heat.
Your local town, city or county government may have differfent regulations for outdoor burning, so check with your local governmen before conducting any burning activities.
Violations of the burn ban can result in a fine up to $500 and/ or imprisonment up to 60 days.
The Florida Forest Service administers Florida’s outdoor burning and forest fire laws. Learn about outdoor buring at the following websites:
FloridaDEP.gov/air/permitting-compliance/content/open-burning and
www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Wildland-Fire/Burn-Authorizations.
CCFR INFORMATION
Citrus County Fire Rescue's business office is located at 1520 N. Meadowcrest Blvd., Crystal River, Florida 34429; business phone: (352) 527-5406. For information about Citrus County Fire Rescue visit its website at www.CitrusCountyFire.com or its social media sites, x.com/CitrusCoFire and Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue.