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Brush Fire Fight Goes Into Night

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By LISA A. DAVIS

ldavis@tampatrib.com

Published: November 20, 2008

DADE CITY - A brush fire that tore through 187 acres of east Pasco County on Tuesday was contained, according to Pasco Fire Rescue.

The fire was reported about 2:45 p.m. and threatened homes in the Duck Lake Drive and River Road area until fire units, including some from the Division of Forestry, arrived, acting Assistant Chief Mike Ciccarello said. Five brush trucks, five engines, two tankers and several support vehicles with 32 firefighters battled the blaze throughout the night.

The Division of Forestry also sent three trackers, other support equipment and two area supervisors to cut firebreaks and prevent other heavy brush from fueling the fire.

Flare-ups and smoke are expected throughout the day, and crews will be monitoring the area, Ciccarello said.

The Division of Forestry is investigating the fire.

In an unrelated fire, Pasco firefighters were called to a mobile home in Bayonet Point about 12:30 a.m. Tuesday.

When crews arrived at 7300 Terrence Drive, two adults and two children had safely escaped. Flames were shooting from the home when firefighters got there, Ciccarello said. It took about 20 minutes to control the fire.

The county fire marshal said a malfunctioning central heating unit caused the fire, Ciccarello said.

The American Red Cross is helping the family and is teaming up with iParty to help salvage the youngest child's first birthday, which the family planned to celebrate Friday, said Abi Weaver of the Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter.

In addition to iParty's birthday decorations donation, the Red Cross gave the Shortt family, including a 3-year-old daughter, money to purchase food, clothes and shoes as well as cribs for the children.

The family stayed with neighbors overnight and plans to move into a vacant mobile home within the same neighborhood, Weaver said.

Donations can be made to the family at www.redcrosstbc .org or by calling 1-877-741-1444. Those who want donations to go to the Shortt family of Pasco should say so specifically.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

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