Ex-NFL Star Percy Harvin's Florida Home Catches Fire, Caught On Video

12:37 PM PT -- Alachua County Communications Director Mark Sexton tells TMZ Sports ... the first call for a fire at Harvin's home came in at 7:48 PM -- with crews arriving at 7:54 PM.

Crews didn’t see flames when they arrived. They entered the home, smelled smoke, and were then alerted that a fire had started on the roof.

The flames were extinguished by 9:17 PM, Sexton said. No residents or firefighters were hurt ... however, the house suffered smoke and water damage, while the roof sustained extensive damage.

Currently, investigators believe that a mechanical failure was the cause of the blaze.

Percy Harvin's Florida home erupted in flames Thursday evening ... triggering a huge response from firefighters, TMZ Sports has learned.

The inferno, which lit up the sky, was captured on video by a neighbor.

It's unclear if 37-year-old Harvin or his family were in the home at the time of the terrifying incident ... but indications are that no one was seriously harmed.

"I can confirm that the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to the report of a structure fire at that residence yesterday evening," a spokesperson for local law enforcement told us.

"Alachua County Fire Rescue responded and handled the incident while we assisted with evacuating nearby residences and closing the roadway."

Harvin's home isn't far from the University of Florida campus in Gainesville, where he starred from 2006 to 2008. Percy, the 22nd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft, is still beloved in the area.

Sadly, Percy's not the first high-profile sports figure in the Sunshine State to deal with a similar situation.

Just last week, Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra's home caught fire. Early last year, Tyreek Hill also experienced a similar tragedy.

The cause of the fire at Harvin's home is unknown.