Floral City accidental home fire likely due to overloaded extension cord; no one injured
Photo courtesy of CCFR.
Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR)
Floral City, Florida – Early Monday morning, June 2, 2025, Citrus County Fire Rescue was dispatched to a residence located on South Great Oaks Drive in Floral City that left the home uninhabitable, but with no reported injuries.
The first unit arrived at the home at 6:22 a.m. to find it fully engulfed in flames. The first arriving units attacked the fire in a defensive mode with two hose lines. A downed power line blocked the road and access to the right side of the home.
As additional crews arrived, the fire was attacked from several sides of the home. Once it was confirmed that all occupants were safely out of the home, firefighters entered the home to conduct a search and an interior fire attack. The fire was brought under control quickly. A secondary search confirmed that no one remained inside the home.
The power company arrived on scene and safely disconnected the downed power line. The American Red Cross was notified to assist the displaced residents.
A preliminary investigation determined the fire to be accidental, originating in a backroom where the residents had reported previous electrical issues. The likely cause was an overloaded extension cord being used to power an air conditioning unit.
The female resident told officials that she awakened to an electrical burning smell and saw an orange glow in the room. She said that she immediately evacuated the home with her child while another person attempted to extinguish the fire. The property owner, who resides in New York, was contacted and reported to officials that the home was not insured.
Full extinguishment of the fire was completed by 8:34 a.m., and the last unit cleared the scene at 8:55 a.m.
Citrus County Fire Rescue cautions residents to never overload extension cords or electrical outlets, especially when using high-wattage appliances like air conditioners or space heaters. Always plug these devices directly into wall outlets,; when possible, and ensure your smoke alarms are functional. Early detection saves lives.
IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, CALL 9-1-1.
Citrus County Fire Rescue Contact Information:
Business Office Location: 1520 N. Meadowcrest Blvd.. Crystal River, Florida 34429;
Non-Emergency Phone: (352) 527-5406.
Website: www.CitrusCountyFire.com
Social Media: x.com/CitrusCoFire and Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue.