The fire that threatened about 30 homes in Avalon Park Sunday night burned from 10 to 15 acres but did not injure anyone or cause any structural damage.
Gail Kish heard the sirens first.
She peaked out from her front door to see what the commotion was all about and saw a group of people standing near her lawn, eyes fixed behind her home. She turned to see a raging fire racing toward her.
Kish rushed to her back door. The flames were so monstrous and close to her Avalon Park home that she could feel the heat through the glass window.
“My first thought was my sleeping husband upstairs. Then I was afraid we could lose everything. I knew there was a possibility we could lose our home,” she said.
Her husband grabbed his computer and Kish snatched their two cats and they got into their van and drove around the corner where it was safe.
From 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, until about 8 p.m. the fire consumed the 10-15 acre green space between Tanja King Park and Topsail Hill Street. More than 30 homes along Topsail Hill Street and Amelia Island Way were evacuated until 9:30 p.m., when Orange County Fire Rescue determined it was safe for them to return.
“The firefighters were awesome. The fire was feet from our house and there’s not even a blade of grass in our yard that’s singed,” Kish said.
She also said her and her husband slept well knowing firefighters were patrolling the burned woods all night, making sure there were no flare ups. OCFR Division Chief Mike Wajda said they continued to keep an eye on the area for a few more days.
To show their gratitude to the more than 50 firefighters from 12 area fire stations who ensured that the fire did not injure anyone or cause any structural damage, residents living in the area as well as downtown Avalon Park businesses rounded up gifts for them.
“That fire could have gotten way out of control and destroyed homes,” said Brian Seals, owner of Brianto’s Original Hoagies in Avalon Park, who gave to the local fire stations. “I guess I have a soft spot for people who do those jobs other people wouldn’t want to do. It’s such a small thing we’re going to do to give back to them for such a large contribution to the community.”
Wajda said the windy, dry conditions created the perfect situation for such an intense fire. They were on the scene within six minutes of the first call for service.
“The commanders realized it was a very fast-moving fire that was going to move quickly and they had to put a lot of resources out there and that’s exactly what they did. You have to stay ahead of the fire before it’s beyond our ability to control it,” he said.
Marty Stone said he wouldn’t have known about the fire if his neighbor hadn’t texted him a photo while he and his family were out to dinner. But it was the wind that lead him, his wife, three kids and their two dogs to leave everything behind to stay with family nearby.
“We didn’t take any of our belongings. All that stuff can be replaced. I was concerned because of the wind. If the wind had shifted, it would have been worse for some homes,” Stone said as his children drew pictures of the fire stretching over the treetops in front of their home with chalk on the sidewalk.
“I was scared and sad,” said his daughter, Emma, 7. “When we were getting home I was sad because I thought the fire would get our house and Louis (their dog) would get hurt.”
Be prepared
Kish, who’s also part of the community’s neighborhood watch, said she’d like to create an emergency plan for fires and said all communities that are close to wooded areas should do the same. She said one of her neighbors slept through the entire ordeal and another has elderly parents living with them who could have used some help.
“We have a phone list that we use now, but we weren’t prepared for this situation,” she said.
About CERT
For more information on CERT, visit the Emergency Management Division on the Orange County Government website at www.orangecountyf...>
Orange County Emergency Management has a program called CERT — Community Emergency Response Team — that helps communities coordinate with responders such as the fire department. Wajda said anyone can get CERT training.
He said the most important thing to do in a situation like this one is to notify the fire department at the first sign of smoke of flames and exercise good housekeeping, meaning clearing brush away from the house that could catch fire or deter responders from getting between the fire and the home.
“The neighbors and everyone there were cooperative. It really helps because then the firefighters can focus on fighting the fire,” Wajda said.