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80-acre fire in Withlacoochee forest contained

News Channel 8 photo by ANTHONY ALLRED

The fire destroyed a home and studios belonging to artist James Rosenquist.

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TBO.com

Published: April 25, 2009

Updated: 04/25/2009 09:42 pm

ARIPEKA - Residents are trickling back to their homes tonight after firefighters contained an 80-acre brush fire in the Withlacoochee State Forest's Homosassa tract at the north end of Indian Bay.

Don Ruths, a spokesman for the Florida Division of Forestry, said there were voluntary evacuations in the area, but residents were being allowed back into their homes at about 9 p.m.

Ruths said only one home, belonging to noted artist James Rosenquist, had been destroyed. The blaze also destroyed two studios he had on his property.

"Gone, everything's gone," Rosenquist said. "I've been working there for 30 years."

He said the house was still standing when he returned home about 5 p.m.

"Then a propane tank went kaboom and then the house went up," he said.

Rosenquist said he was surprised by the speed the fire claimed his home.

"They really go up quick," he said. "I'm just totally wiped out. …It's unbelievable. It came right down the path."

The work of the 75-year-old pop artist has been shown at the Smithsonian, the National Gallery and the Whitney Museum of American Art, The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum organized a retrospective of his work in 2003 that traveled internationally

Rosenquist said he was preparing for a show in New York City in the fall. All of the art for it was destroyed.

He also said he lost a Ferrari in the fire.

"I've got absolutely nada," Rosenquist said.

Forestry crews battled for four hours before getting a handle on the blaze.

"Luckily, the winds have been cooperating," Ruths said.

Ruths said the fire was about 80 percent contained by 9 p.m. He said officials are still investigating how the blaze started.

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