Kitchen Fire Damages Home, Two Pets Killed

HIGH SPRINGS ‒ A house fire Thursday afternoon in unincorporated Alachua County sent one woman to the hospital with minor injuries and claimed the lives of two cats, according to fire officials.

Firefighters from the High Springs Fire Department, Alachua County Fire Rescue and Newberry Fire Department were dispatched at 3:28 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2025, to a residence at 16528 N.W. State Road 45 following reports of a structure fire.

First crews arrived on scene at 3:33 p.m. and found heavy smoke and flames coming from the side and rear of a single-story, wood-frame home, estimated to be about 800 square feet. Firefighters quickly began attacking the fire, getting water on the flames within three minutes of arrival, officials said.

The fire was brought under control by 3:48 p.m., and crews remained on scene to conduct overhaul operations, a standard procedure that involves searching for and extinguishing any hidden pockets of fire to prevent rekindling.

According to fire officials, the blaze is believed to have started in the kitchen while the homeowner was cooking. The woman inside the home at the time of the fire was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

Two cats were killed in the fire, officials said.

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