By Stephen Hudak
Orlando Sentinel (Florida)
Copyright 2007 Sentinel Communications Co.
SORRENTO, Fla. — Helicopters pounded wildfires with an estimated 50 tons of pond water Tuesday as firefighters worked through the night to stop flames from jumping the Wekiva River.
“Our lines are holding so far,” said Don Ruths, a spokesman for the state Division of Forestry, which was leading the charge against a pair of sprawling wildfires in northeast Lake County.
No homes had been damaged by the fires in Lake County, where about 2,500 acres were burning Tuesday.
Forestry officials said 225 wildfires were burning across Florida, affecting about 45,000 acres.
State and county fire officials, optimistic the wildfires could soon be tamed, were nonetheless wary that winds might fan the flames and spread the blaze.
A pair of National Guard helicopters aided the fight, scooping and siphoning water from a fishing pond in the Seminole State Forest and dropping the load onto hot spots deep in the forest.
“Maybe the guys can have a nice fish fry later,” quipped forester Michael Martin, noting the pond had recently been stocked with black bass and bluegill.
Ruths said the choppers flew more than 30 sorties, trying to douse the 1,700-acre blaze north of State Road 46 and west of the Wekiva River. Ground crews used tractors to carve a 24-foot-wide perimeter around the blaze, which could threaten 60 homes if it hopped the river.
No homes were in immediate danger Tuesday, but Lake County firefighters stood watch in Wekiva Pines, where, the day before, flames had marched to within a quarter-mile of the subdivision. Fire officials feared winds could shift and spark new fires in the neighborhood.
“I say if it’s predictable, it’s preventable,” Lake County fire Lt. Braxton Bisceglia explained.
Though confident his brick home and tile roof would have repelled fire, Rudy Rode, 69, was grateful to have firefighters as sentries, lauding them for smothering the fire Monday.
“They did a heck of a job,” he said.
Others were thankful as well.
“We’re lucky,” said Eric Erickson, 44, as he worked on a two-story addition to his home, close enough to hear the beating of the helicopter rotors at the fire. “They’re working hard.”
Rogue embers from the Wekiva River basin blaze ignited a 20-acre site outside the fire lines late Tuesday afternoon, but firefighters jumped quickly to corral it.
Lake County Deputy fire Chief John Jolliff said about 100 firefighters were deployed Tuesday in Lake County, where crews also wrestled with an 880-acre fire midway between Eustis and DeLand. That blaze was burning within its fire lines.
Along with battling wildfires Tuesday, firefighters were called to snuff out three smaller fires started by residents burning debris in their yards. Jolliff said the county remains under a mandatory burn ban.
“No campfires, no burning yard debris,” Jolliff said. “Wait and take your stuff to the landfill.”