By Nancy N. Glick
THe Orlando Sentinel
DELTONA, Fla. — Officials with Volusia County and the Deltona Fire Department are meeting to improve communications after an inoperable county hydrant was discovered last week during a house fire in the city.
Meanwhile, fire officials have determined that the cause of the fire Feb. 11 on Brewster Drive was arson, and they are offering a reward of up to $2,500 for information leading to an arrest.
Anyone with information is asked to contact the Deltona Fire Marshal’s Office at 386-860-7190.
Firefighters had to hook up to a hydrant about 1,800 feet away after realizing they couldn’t get water out of the hydrant closest to the fire at 2161 Brewster Drive.
That inoperable hydrant is maintained by Volusia County, which is supposed to notify the Deltona Fire Department whenever a hydrant is out of service. A county spokesman acknowledged last week that the county should have alerted Deltona officials but failed to do so.
On Tuesday, county spokesman Dave Byron said officials were trying determine what went wrong. But he didn’t return a call late last week seeking an update.
Heather Langston, public-information officer for the Deltona Fire Department, said that while it is difficult to determine, the inoperable hydrant probably did not affect firefighters’ ability to fight the fire.
Damages to the house are estimated at $250,000 to $300,000.
“The fact that the hydrant was not functioning was an operational issue that we are prepared for and had to work through,” said Robert Rogers, Deltona Fire Department deputy chief. “The real issue is that this fire was intentionally set. We are very thankful that no one was injured.”
Firefighters responded to the fire at 11:16 p.m. Feb. 11 with three engines and a ladder and rescue truck. They were prepared to enter the home; however, neighbors told them the residence was empty.
The owner could not be reached for comment last week.
After firefighters arrived, the fire was raging in the attic, and the roof collapsed moments later. Firefighters kept the blaze from spreading to neighboring homes.
The Fire Department released a statement after the fire saying it would work with Volusia County to determine why it never received notification of the inoperable hydrant.
“Fire hydrants in Deltona’s water district are maintained and inspected by the city’s Fire Department, while Volusia County Utilities services those in north Deltona, where Brewster Drive is,” Langston said. “Any significant problem with a hydrant in our district is reported to Deltona Water, who then performs whatever services are needed to correct the problem.”
According to Langston, another hydrant is inoperable in an undeveloped area near Interstate 4. It broke after being damaged during a car accident.