One Dead in High Springs House Fire

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A devastating house fire on Sunday morning, Dec. 29, 2024, has claimed the life of a female victim and displaced a frightened dog. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center began receiving multiple 911 calls at 9:53 a.m., reporting a fire near Northwest 183^rd Road and Northwest 238^th Street in High Springs.

Responding police officers arrived on the scene by 9:56 a.m., encountering substantial black smoke billowing from the residence. Reports en route indicated that a person and a dog were trapped inside the structure. Firefighters arrived shortly thereafter and launched an aggressive effort to contain the blaze to the right side of the home.

At 10:14 a.m., firefighters located the dog, which was alive but visibly frightened. Tragically, at 10:22 a.m., they discovered a deceased female victim near the fire's origin. The fire was fully extinguished by 10:28 a.m.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office, working in conjunction with the High Springs Police Department, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and Alachua County Fire Marshal, has launched an investigation to determine the fire's cause. Authorities are also examining the circumstances surrounding the victim's death, which is standard procedure in such incidents. As of now, the deceased individual has not been positively identified.

High Springs officials expressed gratitude to the Alachua County Fire Rescue, Newberry Fire Department, Alachua Police Department, and Alachua County Sheriff’s Office for their coordinated efforts during the emergency.

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