CITRUS COUNTY, FL (352today.com) – Two structure fires totaling thousands of dollars in damages were extinguished by Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) last week.
Blaze caused by golf cart in Homosassa
The first fire took shape in Homosassa. Firefighters with CCFR responded to a structure fire on S. Rocky Point on Friday, September 20, at 2:01 p.m. Responders arrived and said they found a small shed fire that was nearly out thanks to some neighbors who helped extinguish the fire with a hose.
Responders say they found a downed power line across the driveway in front of the engulfed shed.
CCFR crews say they deployed a hose line to address the remaining hot spots and discovered a burned golf cart in front of the shed. According to CCFR, the golf cart was equipped with a lithium-ion battery box that was “still smoldering”.
The homeowner told CCFR that there was no power to the shed and the golf cart had been left charging before the shed caught fire.
The homeowner mentioned to responders that the battery they purchased was new, and the heat from it caused some of the vinyl siding of the house to melt.
CCFR revealed the golf cart as the most likely source of the fire.
According to CCFR, no injuries have been reported. The damage is estimated at approximately $20,000 and determined to be accidental. The last unit cleared the scene at 2:58 p.m.
Structure fire in the City of Hernando
The second fire happened a few miles northeast in Hernando. CCFR crews responded on Saturday, September 21, at 4:25 a.m. to a structure fire on N. Pearl Point.
Responders arrived at the scene to find a double wide mobile home fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters quickly established a strategy to keep the fire away from the overgrown brush and nearby vehicles in the vicinity.
Fire crews then began to extinguish the fire from all sides of the home.
Crews worked diligently to bring the fire under control by 5:11 a.m.
CCFR says the mop-up phase was “extensive” due to the amount of debris and hazardous materials left over by the fire.
CCFR reported the house as a total loss. They say there were no injuries.