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Brush Blaze Sparks House Fires In Pasco Subdivision

Tribune photo by ANDY JONES

Officials have begun evacuating residents from the area.

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By GEOFF FOX and RAY REYES

gfox@tampatrib.com and rreyes@tampatrib.com

Published: February 18, 2009

Updated: 02/19/2009 05:58 am

HOLIDAY - A wildfire that forced about 25 families to flee their homes Wednesday afternoon will likely keep firefighters busy again today.

The fire in the Beacon Square community, west of U.S. 19, was about 60 percent contained Wednesday night, but an expected shift in wind direction could stir the flames again, said Dave Fogler, an area supervisor for the state Division of Forestry.

Firefighters kept watch on the area overnight, and residents were allowed to return to their homes. No injuries were reported, but yards were left scorched, and some homes were reportedly damaged, Fogler said.

Firefighters were called to the blaze about 2:30 p.m. Investigators could not say exactly how or where the fire started Wednesday.

"Between the drought, low humidity and the wind, I told my wife I'd be home late" Wednesday, Fogler said.

About 50 Pasco Fire Rescue units complemented a state Forestry helicopter and four bulldozers, which plowed a fire break in nearby woods. Some units stayed at the scene overnight to make sure the fire didn't kick up again and spread.

"They removed some of the debris to keep it from going farther down the road," said Bill Jones, who lives a block away from where the fire was concentrated. "They told us somebody will be here all night to watch for spot fires, and an engine will stay in the vicinity."

Jones said he could feel heat from the blaze while standing in his driveway.

While firefighters doused the flames, some residents sprayed their homes and roofs with water.

Resident Richard Mansur said there were so many helicopters overhead Wednesday afternoon that it "sounded like we were on a runway."

"The smoke was pretty bad earlier," Mansur said. "We have a couple of swamps out there, but they're all dried up now. I just went back to check one behind me and it's very, very dry."

That could mean more work for firefighters, who patrolled the area overnight.

Fogler said the state's bulldozer crews, which were expected to work until about 10 p.m. Wednesday, will be back at the scene around 9 a.m. today.

"It's only going to get worse," he said. "I'm seeing fire behavior I don't normally see until April and May, which is our peak season. But in a dry year like this, we could have them all year long."

Reporter Geoff Fox can be reached at (813) 779-4613.

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