Two people were rescued as eight units of an Ocala apartment building were ravaged by flames early Saturday morning.
Multiple units from Ocala Fire Rescue responded to the 4:16 a.m. blaze in the 1500 block of NE 2nd Street. Upon arrival at the two-story apartments, firefighters encountered flames engulfing the rear of the building. The fire was moving from the porch of a second floor unit toward the roof and the breezeway.
Residents who self-evacuated the units told fire crews that additional people were inside. Firefighters then proceeded with a primary search and fire suppression and removed two people in the process.
Three residents of the apartments were evaluated by EMS but no one was transported to area hospitals. And no injuries were reported.
The eight units, which are separated by a breezeway, were deemed uninhabitable after flames roared into the ceiling and compromised the roof trusses. The Red Cross was called to the scene, along with the fire department’s chaplain. And officers from the Ocala Police Department and crews from Marion County Fire Rescue also responded to the blaze.