Family of four safe but displaced
Laura Young
ECB Publishing, Inc.
At 4 a.m. on Wednesday, April 27, Jefferson County Fire Rescue (JCFR) was dispatched to a reported “trailer fire” at 88 Hayes Dr. in Monticello. The emergency response included JCFR's Engine 1, Tanker 1, Squad 1, Rescue 3-6 and Fire Chief Derrick Burrus, as well as Wacissa and Lloyd Volunteer Fire Departments, Jefferson County Sheriff's Office (JCSO) and Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) units. According the the JCFR report, upon arrival, all four occupants –a woman, her mother and two children – were safely out of the structure, which was fully engulfed in flames.
Three 1 3/4” lines were deployed to extinguish the flames. Power was disconnected by Tri-County, and water was turned off at the meter by JCFR.
The occupants reported that their dog and smoke detectors alerted them to the fire. They witnessed flames coming from the porch light. This caused flaming plastic to drip onto the front porch, which prevented the occupants from escaping through the front door. An occupant told JCFR that they “gathered the children and escaped through the back door.” All except one pet made their way safely out of the home.
The fire was extinguished using approximately 10,000 gallons of water through a tanker shuttle from the hydrant at Gamble Road and St. Augustine Road.
Based on witness accounts and burn patterns, the JCFR investigators determined that the fire started near the front door and was unintentional and likely electrical in nature.
The family has been displaced by the fire and is receiving assistance from the Red Cross.
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