Vehicle Fire Destroys Barn in Rural Alachua County

CROSS CREEK – A late-night vehicle fire destroyed a large barn in rural Alachua County on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025, but quick action by firefighters prevented the blaze from spreading to nearby structures or brush, according to Alachua County Fire Rescue.

Crews from Alachua County Fire Rescue, along with Cross Creek and Windsor fire departments, were dispatched at approximately 9:37 p.m. after reports that a vehicle parked inside a barn had caught fire. Upon arrival, firefighters found the vehicle fully involved, with flames already spreading to the wooden structure.

Firefighters established a water supply using a tanker and deployed two hose lines to attack the fire. Despite the intensity of the blaze, crews were able to bring the fire under control and prevent it from spreading beyond the barn to nearby vegetation or adjacent buildings.

According to fire officials, the property owner was able to safely remove all animals from the barn before emergency crews arrived. No injuries were reported.

Photos from the scene show heavy fire involvement inside the barn, with flames consuming vehicles and equipment stored within. Firefighters worked amid thick smoke and intense heat, both from outside the structure and from inside the barn, where the roof and support trusses were heavily damaged.

The Alachua County Fire Marshal was consulted regarding the cause of the fire. Officials indicated that no further investigation will be conducted.

Alachua County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Harold Theus credited the coordinated response and rapid establishment of a water supply for preventing a larger incident.

The incident remains under review for documentation purposes, but fire officials emphasized that the outcome could have been far worse had the fire spread beyond the barn or if animals had still been inside.

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