A multi-agency response, including air support and ground crews, successfully protected structures at the Mill Dam Lake Resort Sunday evening after a wildfire threatened the lakeside community.
The U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Marion County Fire Rescue (MCFR) first responded to the scene at the Mill Dam trailer park around 6:25 p.m. on Sunday, March 22.
Ground crews and air resources immediately engaged in structure protection within the lakeside neighborhood as smoke began to impact travelers on State Road 40.
By 7:00 p.m., MCFR officials confirmed that the immediate danger to the Mill Dam Resort had passed. While the threat to the residential area was mitigated, USFS firefighters continued to battle the blaze in a heavily wooded area to the west.
The Marion County Sheriff’s Office remained on scene throughout the evening to monitor traffic and visibility on SR-40.
In a final update at 8:00 p.m., the USFS reported that the “Mill Dam 2” fire had been confined to a peninsula northwest of the resort and east of SE 178th Terrace Street. The fire was successfully surrounded by a dozer line, with Interagency Hotshot Crews and aviation assets working in tandem to halt its progress.
As winds moderated into the evening, crews shifted their focus to suppressing hot spots along the containment lines. Personnel remained on-site late into the night to address any lingering threats to the perimeter.
The cause of the fire has not yet been determined. Despite recent rainfall in the area, the USFS issued a stern reminder that fire danger remains high across the region as fuels have rapidly dried out.
Residents and visitors are urged to be extremely cautious with any potential sources of ignition.
The incident comes less than 24 hours after firefighters contained a 10-acre timber fire in the Ocala National Forest that forced the temporary closure of a nearby shooting range.