OCALA, FL (352today.com) – A beloved family pet perished and two victims were transported to a local hospital as a result of a house fire that broke out early in the morning of Thursday, Feb. 26, 2026.
Ocala Fire Rescue was dispatched to the 2300 block of SW 4th Street just after 1 a.m. Thursday morning to find a home engulfed in flames and a police officer attempting to control the fire while caring for a resident who had sustained burns.
A second resident was identified, and firefighters ascertained that a family dog was still in the house.
The fire came under control less than 10 minutes after firefighters arrived on the scene, and the two residents were transported to an area hospital as trauma alerts due to both burns and inhalation injuries. Sadly, the dog, while not being burned, died as a result of the blaze.
The Ocala Police Department, Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Electric Utility also responded to the fire and joined in the effort to quell the flames. The blaze is currently under investigation by Ocala Fire Rescue’s Prevention Division.