Jacksonville Apartment Fire Leaves 11 Displaced After Propane Tank Explosion on Old St. Augustine Road
An early morning fire at the Mandarin Lakes apartments on Old St. Augustine Road left 11 residents displaced and damaged 12 units on Thursday, November 6, 2026, according to the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department. Fire crews arrived at the three-story complex around 8:11 a.m. to find heavy flames spreading across the second and third floors.
JFRD Chief Percy Golden II stated that a 25-pound propane tank on a second-floor balcony ignited during the blaze, significantly intensifying the fire. The department issued a second alarm and dispatched 35 units to the scene, bringing the heavy flames under control in about 30 minutes, News4Jax reported.
Flames, Smoke, and Evacuations at Mandarin Lakes
Residents scrambled to escape as the fire tore through the multi-family structure. Kelsie Lisner, who had moved into her apartment in July, recalled waking up to frantic banging on her door and neighbors yelling for everyone to get out immediately.
Lisner grabbed her dog but was unable to rescue her cat before fleeing the unit. She later watched thick smoke pour through her bathroom vent. Firefighters eventually managed to rescue multiple pets from the burning building and escorted personnel back into affected apartments to retrieve essential medications for residents, according to JFRD.
Emergency medical personnel evaluated one resident at the scene for smoke inhalation. A Jacksonville firefighter was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, Chief Golden noted.
Lisner Loses Home and Stays with Sister
For Lisner and her boyfriend, the aftermath means a total loss of their home and belongings. She is currently staying with her sister while figuring out next steps. When she learned the extent of the damage—describing her apartment as sopping wet and heavily smelling of smoke—she recounted moving past denial into the other stages of grief.
The American Red Cross is assisting the 11 displaced residents with finding temporary shelter. Meanwhile, JFRD investigators are working to determine the exact cause of the fire, including what the 25-pound propane tank was being used for on the balcony. News4Jax has reached out to the department for further updates.
To help ease the financial burden, Lisner’s coworkers launched an online fundraiser to replace her belongings. By Saturday, the effort had raised $1,220 across 16 donations. Lisner expressed gratitude for the community support, adding that any funds raised beyond her goal will be shared with other residents impacted by the fire.
