Brush Fire Threatens 80 Homes Near Lake Placid

Photos from Leisure Lakes Brush Fire

LAKE PLACID - Residents lined roads in the Leisure Lakes area watching smoke cloud the sky as the first major brush fire of the year threatened about 100 acres and 80 homes.

The brush fire was reported southwest of Sebring at North West Josephine Road and Grand Concourse about 1 p.m. Monday and was not under control as of press time.

Firefighters from agencies throughout the county responded as a helicopter flew overhead, dumping water onto the fire.

"The wind is causing it to jump all over the place and the dry conditions are fueling it time it finds a new place," said Ben Henley, emergency management coordinator for Highlands County.

Charles Andrews, Highlands County Fire Services supervisor, said although brush fires have been frequent, none this year have been as large as Monday's fire.

"We have been having brush fires daily, but this is the first one we have had to deal with that is out of hand," Andrews said.

The fire once jumped across Henscratch Road toward Henscratch Farms Vineyard and Winery. The fire also burned power lines along Henscratch Road, which was closed for several hours between Lake Josephine Road and Country Lane.

Pedro and Ester Ordehi watched from the end of the driveway of their home and nursery along Henscratch Road.

"We have been watching for a few hours and the wind is so bad, we hope it doesn't jump," Pedro Ordehi said. "Our home and our business are back there."

Many residents were evacuated from their homes. Carolyn O'Neill watched as fire crews hosed down her house, to help prevent it from catching on fire.

"All my stuff is in there," O'Neill said nervously, as she watched smoke billow over her land.

June Winstead, who lives in the area, saw the smoke and wanted to watch from a safe distance.
"It has just been unbelievable," Winstead said. "The sky has been changing colors -- first it was totally black and then it started to spread. Every once in a while, I see huge billows of white smoke."