Heavy fire burns through Brandon apartment, displaces 12 families

VIDEO/PHOTOS: A heavy fire burned through a two-story apartment in Brandon on Sunday afternoon, according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue. Reports of the large fire were received at around 4:52 p.m. at Red Maple Place. “It is my entire apartment building on fire, and nothing of it left," resident Melissa Morgan told WFLA. The 3-alarm fire sent a large column of black smoke into the air, as officials said the fire rapidly burned through the roof of one building, traveling along the attic of the attached units. “When I came back in to tell everyone that there was a fire out there, somebody was banging on the door telling everyone to come out, everybody get out. So, me and my family got out safely, so it is crazy, and it has been emotional,” resident Sheila Jacobs said.
WFLA-TV NBC 8 Tampa

Bachelorette party escapes devastating fire at restaurant in Destin: ’Hit by a wall of black smoke’

PHOTOS: A bachelorette party managed to escape unharmed after the restaurant they were celebrating in caught fire in Florida. An investigation is underway after the blaze broke out at Tailfins Waterfront Grill in Destin just before 11 a.m. on Saturday. Heavy flames and smoke were coming from the second and third floor. No one was hurt, but some firefighters were taken to the hospital out of precaution. For one family, the fire led to some scary moments as they were out to celebrate a good cause. "A lot of people didn't even know that the fire was even going off because the alarm didn't go off right away, but one thing that we did notice was that the owner was actually on the third story with a fire extinguisher actually trying to put the fire out himself," said John Stephens, Bluefish Pontoon Rentals owner.
WEAR-TV ABC 3 Pensacola

FSU students evacuate, dog killed as fire burns homes in Tallahassee student housing complex

VIDEO: Students urgently escaped from a blaze which burned through multiple apartments in the Campus Row student housing complex on Carolina Street around 2 a.m. on Monday. A crowd of dozens watched the raging flames as residents fled with their pets, roommates, friends and significant others. The Tallahassee Fire Department arrived on the scene to evacuate residents and prevent the flames from spreading about 5 minutes after the blaze began. At least three fire trucks and two ambulances were on the scene to snuff the blaze. Officers from the Tallahassee Police Department were also there to help out. "TFD firefighters launched an aggressive attack on the fire while conducting searches for potential occupants and evacuating the building," a TFD spokesperson wrote in a news release.
Tallahassee Democrat - Metered Site

82-foot yacht catches fire in Miami shipyard; no injuries

VIDEO: Firefighters battled a fierce blaze in Miami when a brand-new yacht went up in flames. More than 32 City of Miami Fire Rescue units and 100 firefighters responded to the scene at the Merrill-Stevens Yachts, a shipyard located near Northwest 12th Avenue and 11th Street, next to the Miami River, at around 11:15 a.m., Sunday. Video posted on social media showed thick billowing smoke coming from the boat house. “They found an 82-foot vessel, state of the art, fully engulfed in flames,” said Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Pete Sanchez. Officials said crews managed to save other boats from damage. “There were also other yachts surrounding that yacht. Firefighters were able to unhook them, ’cause they were obviously on the water,” said Sanchez.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Escambia County home with outstanding violations catches fire for 3rd time this year

VIDEO: A house in Myrtle Grove caught fire Thursday morning for the third time this year. Crews were called out to the property on 48th Avenue around 6 a.m., finding flames going through the roof. Escambia County says no one was injured. According to Code Enforcement, the home has had outstanding violations going back to 2021. After the county spent more than a thousand dollars to clean up the property, remaining structural issues led to a daily $40 fine. That's been accruing since June of 2021 -- now totaling around $42,000. Documents show those violations include trash and debris accumulation. "They've been burning fires for the whole time they've been here, four years," a neighbor said. "They burn trash every day. Every day they burn trash."
WEAR-TV ABC 3 Pensecola

Large brush fire on Jacksonville’s southside 100% contained, Florida Forest Service says

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and Florida Forest Service contained a large brush fire in a wooded area off Kirbo Road. Florida Forest Service was alerted of the fire at 2:10 a.m. Action News Jax’s Logan MacDonald went to the scene and saw several JFRD firefighters and Florida Forest Service personnel at the scene. JFRD confirmed with Action News Jax that it was fighting a brush fire. FFS told MacDonald at the scene that there were no injuries, no homes were threatened and the fire was 100% contained. Crews left the area at around 6:15 a.m. after the fire burned 2.4 acres, but FFS said it would be returning later to look for remnants of the fire. FFS told Action News Jax that the fire grew from an escaped warming fire in a homeless community. Crews are currently engaging in mop-up operations.
WOKV-FM 104.5 Jacksonville

Cooper City home engulfed in flames after fire erupts inside garage

A home in Cooper City was engulfed in flames after a fire broke out in the garage Friday morning, fire officials said. According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue, a witness called 911 to report a fire in the 11500 block of Southwest 53rd Place. When firefighters arrived, they found heavy flames coming from the garage of the home, which extended into the attic space. Officials said the garage had a converted bedroom, which made it difficult for firefighters to gain access. Within about 30 minutes, the fire was extinguished and now crews are conducting an overhaul and wetting down hotspots. At this time, officials said that it appeared no one was home at the time of the fire and no injuries were reported. The State Fire Marshal will investigate the cause of the fire.
WTVJ-TV NBC 6 Miami

Crews extinguish garage fire in Fort Lauderdale home; charred electric skateboard found inside

Crews battled fierce flames in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood after, officials said, a fire broke out in the garage of a home. Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue units responded to the home along the 2700 block of Northeast 37th Drive, just before 1:30 p.m. on Thursday. First responders noticed the fire was coming from the garage and began attacking the blaze. “Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue responded today to a report of a structure fire with smoke and fire visible from the side of the house,” said Fort Lauderdale Fire Marshal Jeff Lucas. “Once we arrived, we quickly contained the fire, got in through the side door, put water on the fire, and limited the damage to just the garage.” Once extinguished, crews found a charred Onewheel electric skateboard.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami