INGLIS, Fla. — Citrus County Fire Rescue helped put out a large fire at a house that destroyed the residence on Friday morning.
Just after 10:30 a.m. on Friday, crews from surrounding areas and counties responded to the fire at West River Road in Inglis after receiving a nearby report. A large black smoke column was visible from Highway 19 and the Barge Canal, according to a news release.
The fire engulfed the house and it was visible from both floors on three sides of the house with fire present throughout the entire second floor and about 30% of the first, the release said. No people or pets were inside the structure at the time.
Officials won't know the cause until the investigation is complete, but the owner said candles and incense were burning on the windowsill of an upstairs bedroom while he was doing yard work outside 30 minutes before the fire.
"Citrus County Fire Rescue would like to remind our citizens to blow out candles when you leave a room or home, or when you go to bed and to consider using battery-operated flameless candles, which can look, smell and feel like real candles," the release read.
Crews extinguished the flames and the last unit cleared the scene just before 3 p.m. Photos show the roof destroyed and the home charred with broken windows and parts of the house on the ground.
No injuries were reported, and disaster recovery assistance personnel are assisting the homeowner.
