On 04/28/2025 20:17 hours, the Holley-Navarre Fire District was dispatched to the 8100 block of Menorca Street following reports of a fire in a rear room of a single-story residence. Battalion 40 and Engine 45 arrived within minutes to find flames erupting from a first-floor side window and heavy smoke billowing through the structure.

Firefighters immediately advanced a hose line into the home, where zero visibility forced crews to navigate by touch. With aggressive interior attacks, crews knocked down the main body of the fire in under ten minutes and began a systematic search for hidden hotspots. Meanwhile, a family member had already assisted one occupant to safety prior to the department’s arrival. Despite the swift response, an elderly female resident sustained smoke inhalation and burn injuries. She was transported by Lifeguard EMS as a "Trauma Alert" to HCA Florida Fort Walton Beach Trauma Center. No firefighters were harmed during suppression or overhaul operations.

Tragically, a cat trapped inside the burning home did not survive. “We do everything we can to save both lives and pets, but in some circumstances the fire’s intensity makes that impossible,” said Fire Chief Kevin Lewis.

The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office was notified to determine the fire’s cause and point of origin. Initial investigations will focus on the rear room where the blaze began.

Holley-Navarre was assisted by Navarre Beach Ladder 49, Midway Engine 37 and Florosa Engine 5.