On January 27, Crystal River Fire responded as mutual aid to Citrus County Fire Rescue for a reported structure fire on W. Cherrywood Street. Truck 1, headed by Captain Steve Cenko, was awarded second priority under the nearest unit response agreement, which ensures the quickest possible arrival to crises across jurisdictional lines.

Crews arrived within minutes to find a fire on the front porch that had extended into the home. Firefighters quickly placed water on the fire, stopped the spread, and completed thorough primary and secondary searches to confirm no occupants were inside. During search operations, responders located several pets. Two dogs and one cat were found dead. One cat and one snake were safely removed, but one more cat could not be found, despite numerous efforts. Citrus County Animal Control assisted on the scene.

The fire was ruled to be unintentional and electrical in nature, and it was limited to the room of origin. The American Red Cross helped the occupants. Officials advised residents to avoid overloading outlets and to contact a certified electrician if any warning indications appeared.