Fire officials say the apartment located near the corner of Byrom Street and Sessions Street in Milton was vacant upon receiving a fire emergency call on Friday afternoon.
First responders from the Skyline Fire and Rescue District, Milton and NAS Whiting Field fire departments along with officers from the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office were on scene at the incident.
Upon arrival, Skyline Fire Chief Tim Diamond said nearby residents were already trying to extinguish the fire by using water from a garden hose.
Although the origin of the fire is unknown at this time and is currently under investigation by the state’s fire marshal’s office, Diamond said the fire started on the ground floor leading to the apartment’s attic.
Diamond said the fire caused “minimal damage” to the apartment structure.
This residential fire leads to the third candle to be extinguished on the “Keep Your Holidays Bright” fire safety tree.
The “Keep Your Holidays Bright” campaign, which promotes fire safety throughout December, features a Christmas tree located within the Santa Rosa County Administration Complex.
According to the press release from the Santa Rosa County public information office, an electric candle will be ‘extinguished’ on the tree each time county firefighters respond to a residential fire or large wildfire causing fire damage.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Vacant apartment catches fire