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Squirrel's Death Sparks Evacuation In Weeki Wachee
Hernando Today photo by BOB EAST III
Spring Hill firefighters douse a hot spot at a brush fire between Mertal and Pistachio Streets in Weeki Wachee Wednesday.
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Published: May 15, 2008
WEEKI WACHEE - A squirrel's dramatic death sparked a 2- to 3-acre brush that forced nearby residents out of their homes.
Shortly after 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, a loud bang interrupted the quiet on Pistachio and Mertal streets, off Cortez Boulevard west of Weeki Wachee Springs.
Curry Davis stepped outside his Mertal Street home to investigate and saw wisps of smoke creeping out from the thick underbrush across the street.
Within minutes, he said, the crackle and roar of a growing fire could be heard spreading through the short trees and heavy shrubs that separate the two streets.
"Those pines go like powder," he said.
Eventually, a collective force of firefighters from the county, Spring Hill and the Division of Forestry began their attack on the flames climbing upward of 20 feet. Authorities asked 18 residents from Pistachio and Mertal to clear out for safety.
Employees of Alma's Restaurant on Cortez Boulevard began hosing down the roof and walls of the business as a stiff wind fueled the inferno.
"I was scared," said Jeanne Haynes. The flames "were very loud."
Her co-worker, Laurine Smart, added: "You could hear the wind moving the flames."
Fire officials, who spent about two hours from start to finish at the scene, said it was likely a squirrel zapped by a transformer started the blaze.
Reporter Kyle Martin can be reached at 352-544-5271 or kmartin@hernandotoday.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( chuck69 ) on May 15, 2008 at 12:29 a.m.
(This comment was removed by the site staff.)
Posted by ( freedom95 ) on May 15, 2008 at 2:09 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
poor squirrel, by the way what happened to the monkeys
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Posted by ( Capt_Bill ) on May 15, 2008 at 6:20 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
In a related story, 5 monkeys were arreested and charged with arson for forcing the squirrel to start the fire. Reports say the monkeys used the fire as a diversion to cover their tracks during a two week long escape, by threatening the squirrel with taking away his nuts.
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Posted by ( leopard1 ) on May 15, 2008 at 6:53 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
The squirrel thought the iguana got way too much press last week when he put 20,00 in the dark so he up the ante for jacka$$ stunts.
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 15, 2008 at 7:48 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm keeping my Monkey out of Polk County.
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Posted by ( ratman ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:42 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Capt_Bill
Thanks for my laugh of the day
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Posted by ( DarthRandall ) on May 15, 2008 at 9:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is all mankind's fault. We should find out the name of the guy from Fl. Power that put that pole up and have him killed! This is an outrage!!!! We should have the president of Fl. Power brought up on muder charges!!!
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Posted by ( flpeep ) on May 15, 2008 at 10:11 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
That guy isn't kidding when he talks about how flammable the pine trees are! About a decade ago, my hubby and I took our spent Christmas tree to have bonfire. This was before drought and we lived in a very rural part of the state, near a lake, so we thought all was okay. Hubby was messing around pretending the tree would go up any minute, so he flung the match at it, rather than kneel beside it to light it. Thankfully he did that, because when that tree ignited, it went up instantly like an inferno! Yes, I realize it is not the same type tree as the pines he is referring to, but it was a type of pine. There must be something in the sap! That was the last real tree we have bought.
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Posted by ( tparich ) on May 15, 2008 at 11:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Great headline! LOL
DarthRandall couldn't have done better.
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Posted by ( stp308 ) on May 15, 2008 at 12:32 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha....... ok im better! i don't even know when to begin
i guess this is why u should boil your nuts instead of roasting them!
how did they know it was a squirrel? was it a flying squirrl and the found the black box?
and finely are you sure the squirrel wasn't being used as a undercover informant and was sent to buy some shiny things from the local raccoon mob and was killed for not following protocol !
ok now im done!
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Posted by ( gtrgrl ) on May 15, 2008 at 12:43 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
After all the times that squirrel dashed in front of my truck with expert, precision timing and escaped certain squashing then laughing the arrogant laugh of a squirrel drunk with mad overconfidence only to die in a B & E gone bad.
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Posted by ( ceibert ) on May 15, 2008 at 1:11 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is like Critter's Gone Wild.
The pelican attacks a swimmer.
Lizards putting out power to thousands of homes.
Monkeys gone amuck.
Squirrels starting fires
Apes murdering families.
It's all to much drama for me.
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Posted by ( Longball ) on May 15, 2008 at 1:44 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Okay, Lets see who come up the funniest joke about getting fried while hiding his nuts
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Posted by ( catskill ) on May 15, 2008 at 4:09 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
WEEKI WACHEE - Police have released the identity of the squirrel who was tragically killed in an electrical accident earlier today. Chip McBushytail was apparently killed when he came into contact with a high voltage connection near his home. Investigators say the death does not appear suspicious, but are not releasing the final report until sometime later this week. A long time area resident, Mr. McBushytail was well liked by his Mertal Street neighbors. "I always would see him on my way home from work" said Leslie Walker, who lived across the street from the accident scene. "He will be missed", she added.
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Posted by ( gtrgrl ) on May 15, 2008 at 5:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Very good catskill!
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