Firefighters respond to residential fire in Green Leaf

Staff report

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Firefighters responded this evening to a residential fire in Green Leaf that started in the back yard and spread into an apartment; there was a minor injury, but the individual declined emergency medical services.

At approximately 8:00 p.m. on February 10, crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) and Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) responded to reports of a multi-unit residential structure fire in the Green Leaf subdivision off SW 75th Street.

The initial caller reported a fire in the back yard that had extended into the building. Upon arrival, crews found an exterior fire on the rear of the apartment building that had spread into a single unit. Firefighters acted quickly and decisively, bringing the fire under control and limiting damage to one apartment.

A minor injury was reported involving a neighboring resident who attempted to extinguish the fire prior to the arrival of fire crews. The individual was evaluated on scene, declined emergency medical services, and refused transportation.

No residents were displaced as a result of the incident. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the Alachua County Fire Marshal’s Office.

Alachua County Fire Rescue would like to remind the public that a countywide burn ban is currently in effect. Open burning of any kind is prohibited, as it poses a significant risk to life and property. ACFR urges residents to follow all burn restrictions and to immediately report fires rather than attempting to extinguish them on their own, helping to keep our community safe.