Red Bulbs Lit After Three Residential Fires In 24 Hours

December 3, 2008

Three days into Escambia County’s “Keep the Wreath Green” holiday fire safety program, three red bulbs representing residential fires have been lit.

At 4:03 a.m. Wednesday., an Escambia County Sheriff’s deputy on routine patrol noticed a fire coming from the roof of a home in the 4500 block of Florelle Way. The deputy evacuated the family and reported the fire. Escambia County Fire Rescue firefighters extinguished the fire in the attic. The American Red Cross was called to assist the family, two adults and five children. The fire was ruled accidental, caused by an electrical short. Firefighters from Osceola, Brent, West Pensacola, Ensley, and Bellview responded.

At 11:06 a.m. Tuesday, Escambia County Fire Rescue units responded to Tanglewood Gardens Mobile Home Park at 6530 N. Palafox Street. Upon arrival, firefighters found heavy smoke coming from one of the homes. The fire, located in one of the bedrooms, was quickly brought under control and extinguished by 11:32 a.m.

No one was home at the time of the fire. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office determined the fire was accidental due to an undetermined electrical problem. Firefighters from Brent, Ensley, and Ferry Pass responded.

At 3:53 Tuesday morning, fire units responded to Melei Rental Huts at 3543 Mobile Highway, an extended-stay cottage facility. When firefighters arrived at the scene they found the rear of one of the duplexes fully involved and the fire starting to come through the roof. At 4:48 a.m. the fire was out.

There were no injuries reported, but the rear cottage was completely destroyed and the front cottage sustained smoke and water damage. The Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office determined that the fire was accidental caused by a space heater that was left on in the bedroom close to combustible materials. Firefighters from West Pensacola, Osceola, Brent, Myrtle Grove, Warrington, and the Navy responded to the fire.

Escambia County Fire-Rescue and the City of Pensacola Fire Department will continue the “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign throughout the holiday season.

This year, the fifth year of the campaign, five-foot wreaths will be on display at 22 different locations throughout the holiday season. These sites are the Old Escambia County Courthouse on Palafox Place, the Public Safety Building on W Street, all 18 primary county fire stations, and two fire stations within the City of Pensacola.

A third fire was reported late Tuesday night on Pinestead Road in Pensacola. A red bulb for that fire is expected to be lit on Wednesday.

Every time firefighters respond to a residential fire a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by holiday decorations.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News