Firefighters from Marion County and Ocala battled a structure fire Thursday night at a local car lot.
Units from Marion County Fire Rescue and Ocala Fire Rescue responded at about 10:43 p.m. to a blaze at Good Sam Motors, located at 4500 S. Pine Ave. Multiple 911 callers reported heavy smoke and flames billowing out from the roof of the structure, with explosions heard from the interior, a report states.
A Marion County Fire Rescue medic unit was the first to arrive at 10:47 p.m. and its crew reported a working fire in the one-story, wooden-frame commercial structure. Flames also had broken the roof, the report says.
A Marion County Fire Rescue battalion chief arrived and established command, followed by Shady Engine #16, which arrived on scene and deployed hose lines. Ocala Fire Rescue Engine #7 established a water supply from a nearby hydrant and firefighters entered the burning structure through the front door with a 2.5-inch line.
As firefighters continued to battle the flames, electrical lines fell on one side of the building, causing a hazard for incoming units. Heavy fire conditions on the interior of the structure then forced firefighters into defensive mode. Evacuation tones were sounded and accountability was taken of all firefighters at the scene.
Ladder 1 arrived to complete a vertical ventilation of the roof, relieving the heavy fire and smoke conditions on the interior. Firefighters from multiple stations continued on an interior attack of the structure and the blaze was called under control at 11:23 p.m. The cause and origin of the fire remains under investigation.
