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Brush Fire Causes Minor Damage

ELECTROCUTED SQUIRREL CAUSED THE BLAZE, AUTHORITIES SAY

Jasmina Meyer/Highlands Today

Fire fighters from West Sebring and City of Sebring contain a brush fire near residents' homes off of Heron St and Cardinal Ave in Sebring.

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: May 27, 2008

Updated: 05/27/2008 05:07 pm

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Video: Scenes from Brush Fire

SEBRING — Although flames reached 10 to 15 feet and embers flew up to 100 yards Tuesday afternoon, firefighters kept a brush fire from causing major damage near Hammock Road.

Two homes had minor soffit damage and cracked glass from the heat, and one car was destroyed between Heron and Barn Owl streets and Scrub Jay and Cardinal avenues.

The fire, which burned five acres, was fully contained late Tuesday afternoon, according to Florida Division of Forestry Senior Forester Dale Armstrong.

Fire crews, though, continued to "mop up" the area for hotspots.

James Jackson, of Cardinal Avenue, was more than relieved as the fire went around his house.
"One of our neighbors was nice enough to get the [four] dogs out so they kicked in the front door," he said. "The whole house is filled with smoke."

His neighbor Janet Walker suggested exchanging phone numbers so they could quickly contact each other in case another fire hits the area.

Pointing east down Scrub Jay Avenue, Larry Douglass said, "There's a house right there and I would have sworn that it was on fire because there was a lot smoke coming up from there."

Residents were asked to evacuate the immediate area and traffic was diverted from Heron Avenue.
Historically this has been a problem area because of the dense brush, which is dried out at this time of year, Armstrong said.

Four children witnessed the unusual cause of the blaze.

A squirrel touched a live power line causing an electrical arc, Armstrong said. The animal caught fire, fell to the ground and started the brush fire. The children reported it to a homeowner who called 911.

Homeowners should keep a minimum of a 30-foot space around their home, Armstrong said. "We can actually get trucks and firefighting personnel in there to help defend that home in case of a wildfire."

For additional fire safety information, check the Division of Forestry Web site at: www.fl-dof.com.

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