House Destroyed, Four Other Structures Threatened By Wildfire (With Gallery)

March 26, 2013

One house was destroyed and four other structures were threatened by a wind-drive brush fire Monday afternoon in Byrneville, and one home owner is pointing the blame at thieves or vandals that have plagued the neighborhood.

An uninhabited house was reported to be on fire just before noon in the 1300 block of McBride Road. The house was fully involved and had sparked a brush fire that was spreading quickly across a field as firefighters arrived on scene.

The house was a total loss. Firefighters were able to keep the rapidly spreading brush fire from destroying an abandoned trailer, two occupied mobile homes and  barn. In total, the brush fire consumed about eight acres.

For a photo gallery, click here.

“They’ve been stealing stuff out of the house before,” said Noah McBride, owner of the abandoned house. He said the house had no electricity of gas and theorized the fire was started by thieves or vandals.

“There has been a big problem with break-ins in this area,” he said. “The house still had old furniture and things in it, and they’d been there several times stealing a few things. I bet they were  back.”

The exact cause of the fire will be determined by the Florida State Fire Marshal’s Office.

The Century, McDavid, Walnut Hill, Molino and Cantonment stations of Escambia Fire Rescue, the Flomaton Fire Department and the Florida Division of Forestry battled the blaze. Escambia County EMS and the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office also responded.

Pictured top: An uninhabited house on McBride Road was fully involved when firefighters arrived on scene as scene in this reader submitted photos.. Pictured inset and below: A resulting brush fire consumed about eight acres and threatened four other structures. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.

Comments

3 Responses to “House Destroyed, Four Other Structures Threatened By Wildfire (With Gallery)”

  1. puddin on March 27th, 2013 7:24 pm

    Our firefighters are awesome! Way to go guys! :-)

  2. Ray on March 26th, 2013 9:33 am

    Thanks to our HERO their was no one hurt and on other loss of any homes or trailors Great job Guys.

  3. Mandy on March 26th, 2013 5:16 am

    Glad no one was hurt! Very lucky your house is still there Mom!!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News