UMATILLA, FL (352today.com) – An early morning Umatilla barn fire forced Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) units into action.
Fire units were dispatched at 5:26 a.m. on Tuesday after 9-1-1 callers reported a barn in the 24000 block of Southeast Highway 42 in Umatilla engulfed in flames.
The first units arrived minutes later to find the 5,000-square-foot commercial building half-engulfed in flames.
Units conducting a 360-degree fire inspection noted multiple propane tanks within the fire. Responders then decided to take a defensive posture to prepare themselves for the worst.
The MCFR command reported that “several” explosions occurred during the incident. They did not specify if the explosions came from the propane tanks but said they enhanced the fire’s intensity.
Shortly after, additional units arrived on the scene, establishing a water supply to suppress the fire.
MCFR announced that the fire was under control after two hours of effort, with some units remaining on-site to help in case the fire reignited.
No injuries were reported to firefighters or civilians.
The cause and origin of the fire remain under investigation.