WELAKA, Fla. — The small Putnam County town of Welaka saw a major fire break out on Monday morning.
Mayor Jamie Watts posted photos on the town’s Facebook page of the old boat repair building at the corner of Elm and Front streets, near the town’s boat launch, fully engulfed in flames.
Watts said five different fire departments worked to put the fire out.
No casualties were reported as a result of the fire, but one firefighter was taken to the hospital with heat exhaustion, Watts said.
The mayor followed up with another Facebook post after the fire was out:
“The efforts of Scott Turnbull and the entire Welaka Volunteer Fire Department the home immediately next door to the building was saved. We are very proud of our firefighters and our Chief of Police Mike Porath for how quickly they responded.
“We also appreciate all the cities that responded including Palatka, Crescent City, Pomona Park, Georgetown, Satsuma and others for responding to such a serious disasters in our Town!
“We might not be the biggest county in Florida but we have the biggest heart. Thank you to everyone who put themselves in harms way to protect our Town.”