Dove World Outreach Center pastor Terry Jones burned copies of the Quran and an image depicting Muhammad in front of his church Saturday.
Moments later, Gainesville Fire Rescue issued the church a citation for violating the city's fire ordinances.
Saturday's act of protest took place in spite of published reports that the Pentagon had urged Jones to reconsider, expressing concern that American soldiers in Afghanistan and elsewhere could be put at greater risk because of the act.
A little more than a year ago, on March 20, 2011, Dove World assistant pastor Wayne Sapp burned a copy of the Quran and broadcast it on the Internet. Reports and images of the Quran burning incited violence in northern Afghanistan in which at least 12 people were killed. Days later, a man wearing an Afghan border police uniform shot dead two American military personnel.
Dove World denied responsibility then for the deaths.
Several onlookers watched the event from across 37th Street. Some said they wished Jones and Dove World would stop its activities or relocate, while others noted that Jones has a constitutional right to protest.
Jones first drew attention in July 2009, when he placed signs reading "Islam is of the Devil" on church property and when students who belong to the church later wore T-shirts with the words to public schools.
In September 2010, he drew international focus with a plan to burn Qurans. The U.S. government warned of reprisals against military in Iraq and Afghanistan if the burning took place. President Barack Obama and the Vatican, among others, condemned the plan, which Jones later called off.