CITRA, Fla. – A dog and three chickens were rescued Saturday morning from the property where fire engulfed a pallet warehouse, Marion County Fire Rescue personnel said.
The 3,000-square-foot warehouse on North U.S. Highway 301 in Citra was reported to be fully in flames at 1:10 a.m., fire officials said.
Fire crews said 911 callers reported seeing heavy smoke and flames coming from inside and outside the building. Several crews from multiple agencies arrived to battle the blaze until it was declared under control at 2:42 a.m., fire crews said.
No one was inside the building during the fire, firefighters said. The animals were safely removed from the property. After the rescue, firefighters gave the dog oxygen. Marion County Animal Control later reunited the dog with its owner.
Firefighters said several large propane tanks were also removed from the property.
The cause of the fire is still being investigated, fire officials said.