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Beaten back twice already, MacDill fire flares up again
By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published May 13, 2006
TAMPA - A brush fire that began Monday at MacDill Air Force Base flared up again Friday, prompting officials to call for reinforcements.
"Every available person to pitch in manpower has done so," base spokesman Capt. Danny Cooper said.
Between 75 and 100 firefighters, security forces and other base volunteers used water hoses, shovels, rakes and picks to attack the fire, estimated at 10 to 20 acres. A Tampa police helicopter assisted the crew by making several water drops.
Friday evening, Cooper said the fire was under control. It burned a field area on the back side of the 5,000-acre base by a nearby skeet range on both sides of a road, where access was restricted Friday.
No buildings were threatened and no evacuations or injuries were reported. The area borders an explosive ordnance disposal range, but Cooper said no explosives were in the area. The range is used for training.
The blaze started Monday after explosion ordnance disposal workers were getting rid of a flare and a piece of phosphorus ignited, causing about 10 acres to burn before the fire was contained. It blazed up again Tuesday morning and was doused, though apparently not completely. Fire officials continued to monitor the area throughout the week and the fire resurged again Friday.
"You can call it persistent," Cooper said.
Girl's family, Busch Gardens to continue negotiations
TAMPA - Cynthia Matthews-Hamad told a federal judge Friday that she doesn't think $165,000 is enough to cover the physical and emotional pain her 12-year-old daughter faces after falling on a Busch Gardens water ride six years ago.
An attorney for the amusement park blamed the child's problems on her obesity and a pre-existing physical condition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Mark A. Pizzo, charged with deciding if the settlement agreement is fair, didn't issue a ruling Friday. Instead, he instructed attorneys for the Seminole family and Busch Gardens to keep negotiating and advise him of their progress next week.
[Last modified May 13, 2006, 02:30:25]
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