By Becky Long
Publisher
Clay County Fire and Rescue has been called to three fires that occurred within a five-day period. The fires resulted in the loss of two homes and a garage structure. However, no injuries were reported.
On Jan. 20, a fire at a home on Ford Road was called in at 8 p.m. The fire was reported by the owner to be in the laundry/kitchen area, according to Fire Chief Brian Anderson.
When firefighters arrived, 75 percent of the structure was involved and resulted in a complete loss of the home.
Anderson said the fire is still under investigation. Homeowners were relocated and are staying with family members.
On Sunday, Jan. 21, Anderson said a detached garage was reported on fire around 4 p.m. by the owner. He said when firefighters arrived, the garage was fully involved along with an RV parked adjacent to it.
Firefighters were able to prevent the fire from spreading to the residence. The fire is believed to have started from an electrical short from a UTV parked in the garage.
Incidents didn’t let up as of Wednesday morning, Jan. 24. At 3:52 a.m. a house fire on Debbie Lane near Lance Cove was reported by a neighbor. Upon arrival, the structure was 75 percent involved and eventually a complete loss, according to Anderson. The owners were in confirmed to be Florida at their primary residence.
The cause of the fire is under investigation.
Anderson said preliminary findings point to electrical as the cause of the recent fires, though it cannot be confirmed until the investigation is complete.