Propane tank ignites as firefighters battle Mandarin apartment blaze that drew 35 JFRD vehicles – News4JAX

Propane tank ignites as firefighters battle Mandarin apartment blaze that drew 35 JFRD vehicles  News4JAX

A small propane tank ignited Thursday as firefighters battled a multi-story blaze at the Mandarin Lakes apartments on Old St. Augustine Road. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A small propane tank on a second-floor balcony ignited Thursday as firefighters battled a multi-story blaze at the Mandarin Lakes apartments on Old St. Augustine Road. One person was treated for smoke inhalation, and one firefighter was taken to a hospital “out of an abundance of caution,” said Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Director and Fire Chief Percy Golden. He said when the propane tank ignited, it made already difficult conditions worse for firefighters, who rescued multiple pets and went back into affected units to collect lifesaving medication for some of the 11 residents who were displaced by the fire.

“When you lose a home, even for a night, those things (you) can’t go without,” Golden said. Golden said 35 department vehicles responded to the complex, and the fire, which quickly spread from the second floor to the third floor, was out within 30 minutes. JFRD Chief of Operations Robert Hickson said the building’s structure will have to be checked for safety before residents can go back in to retrieve anything. Bryce Oselen is a Memphis, Tennessee, native who joined WJXT in August 2026. Carlos Acevedo is a photojournalist at WJXT News4Jax and a University