Fire extinguished in Inglis, FL garage apartment; claim of arson under investigation
Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR), Wednesday, August 21, 2024
Inglis, Florida — At 9:03 pm on Monday, August 19, 2024, Citrus County Fire Rescue responded to W. River Rd., in the Citrus County area of Inglis, due to a reported brush fire. Fire personnel were dispatched to the area due to the report of a 20 foot by 20 foot brush fire on the side of the road.
When firefighters arrived at the location, the homeowner informed them of a fire in a garage apartment located at the rear of the property. Crews were redirected to the garage fire and discovered a 1,000 square foot wood frame garage with flames visible through the roof.
Firefighters initiated fire knockdown using a handline. A handline was also brought into the building for an interior attack. The property's power was secured at the main power box, and the power company later arrived on scene to disconnect the power at the meter. Searches revealed that no one was inside the home.
The homeowner alleged that the fire was started by an individual known to the homeowner. The homeowner's daughter told officials that the suspect had made threatening statements earlier in the day. Fire rescue officials contacted Citrus County Sheriff’s Office Communications with the information provided by the homeowner and their daughter, along with a description of the suspect and the suspect's direction of travel. The suspect was later located nearby by the Citrus County Sheriff’s Office.
When the fire was fully extinguished and mop-up operations were completed, the initial arriving fire personnel remained on scene until the Florida State Fire Marshal arrived to initiate an investigation. The last unit cleared the scene at 11:20 pm. No injuries were reported. Damages were estimated at approximately $4,200.
Firefighters from the Connell Heights, Homosassa, Pine Ridge and DeRosa fire stations responded to the scene, along with a rescue unit.
In the event of a fire, call 911.
For more information about Citrus County Fire Rescue, visit www.citruscountyfire.com. Its business office location is 1520 N. Meadowcrest Blvd., Crystal River, FL 34429, and it's non-emergency phone number is (352) 527-5406.