INVERNESS, FL (352today.com) – At 1:50 a.m. on Sept. 23, 2025, Citrus County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a reported structure fire on E. Gospel Island Rd. in Inverness.
Battalion Chief 1 arrived with Engine 5 from Hernando to find a 30-by-60-foot barn fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters initiated a defensive fire attack, stretching hoselines to protect surrounding property while water supply was established.
Water was on the fire at 2:07 a.m., and the fire was brought under control at 2:13 a.m.
The barn, which was stocked with equipment, contained a fifth-wheel camper, a farm tractor, a boat, and a four-wheeler, all of which were destroyed in the fire. Crews from Engines 5, 8, 20, and 24, along with Tanker 20 and Ladder 23, rotated through extensive mop-up operations until the fire was fully extinguished. The power was secured at the breaker panel, and no injuries were reported.
After investigation, the fire was determined to be electrical in nature. The barn and its contents are considered a total loss. The last unit cleared the scene at 4:05 a.m.