Two residents and three Ocala Police Department officers were injured in a northwest Ocala house fire late Thursday.
The residents, identified only as a man and a woman, suffered smoke inhalation. The man also suffered burns, Ocala Fire Rescue spokeswoman Ashley Lopez said. Both were taken to an out of town hospital for treatment.
Ocala Police Sgt. Dan E. Wright , Cpl. Mark Crandall and Office Lane Curtis were taken to a local hospital for treatment of smoke inhalation suffered while they were trying to rescue the home’s occupants, officials said. They were later released.
Police officials said they received reports about a residential fire in the 1100 block of Northwest Ninth Avenue about 11:11 p.m. There also were reports of gunshots being fired in the area.
They arrived to find the residence partially engulfed in flames.
Speaking to a Star-Banner reporter, Wright said the officers were told that people were trapped inside the burning house. The supervisor said when officers got to the front door, they heard voices calling for help. The officers entered the residence.