Crews from Ocala Fire Rescue battled a blaze Monday afternoon that heavily damaged a cement mixer.
Firefighters responded to the fire in the 3000 block of E. Silver Springs Boulevard at 3:29 p.m. and the first engine arrived three minutes later. They reported that flames were coming from the rear portion of the cement mixer, which is owned by Argos Concrete. The driver, who lives in Ocala, wasn’t injured in the blaze.
Engine 3 and Rescue 2 were the first units to arrive and they requested a second engine and a battalion chief. Engine 3 quickly established command and its crew attacked the fire with a preconnected hose line. Engine 7 arrived a short time later and set up to supply water and support for the crews battling the flames. The fire was quickly extinguished and crews overhauled the fire scene. The blaze caused $20,000 damage to the cement mixer, a report states.
The driver told firefighters that he was traveling on E. Silver Springs Boulevard when he noticed in his rearview mirror that smoke was coming from his back wheels. He said he pulled over and grabbed a fire extinguisher but was unable to control the flames so he backed away and called for help, the report says.