Suzette Cook
One person was transported to a local hospital for respiratory distress and two dogs were rescued by Gainesville Fire Rescue (GFR) early Wednesday morning after a fire swept through eight units at Piccadilly Apartments in Gainesville.
According to GFR Deputy Chief Shawn Hillhouse, investigators believe the fire was caused by an electrical origin.
Crews from GFR stations 4,2,9, and Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) Engine 80 arrived shortly after the emergency call went out at 2:30 a.m., Hillhouse reported.
More help arrived when additional crews from GFR Station 1 and ACFR Squad 23 entered the scene.
In total, 16 apartments were affected by the fire, Hillhouse said with eight involved in the fire and eight damaged by smoke.
“We were able to keep it from spreading,” Hillhouse said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “Our crews did a really good job.”
Hillhouse said that all residents displaced by the fire had somewhere safe to go within the city so no Red Cross assistance was needed.
GFR is still investigating the exact cause.