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Homeless camp blamed for fire
Two acres burn in nearly three hours on the site of a future Wal-Mart Supercenter in Tarpon Springs.
By ROBIN STEIN
Published June 13, 2006
TARPON SPRINGS - A fire on the site of the future Wal-Mart Supercenter on U.S. 19 along the Anclote River on Friday afternoon burned for nearly three hours and consumed about 2 acres of empty brush, fire officials said.
An off-duty Oldsmar volunteer firefighter reported seeing black smoke rising from the vacant site as he was driving by at approximately 12:45 p.m., said Donald Sayre, division chief of Tarpon Springs Fire Rescue.
The fire was sparked in an abandoned encampment occupied by homeless people, Sayre said.
"The initial site was a vagrant campground, but we didn't see any people around," he said.
Eight fire units from Tarpon Springs, East Lake, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor and the Division of Forestry responded to battle the flames. Initially, the firefighters struggled to penetrate the overgrown brush and wetlands so they could surround the fire, which was spreading in a light breeze and dry conditions.
The flames were extinguished by about 3:30 p.m., but several units remained on the site throughout the afternoon, said Sayre.
"They're just mopping up some of the hot spots, but it's under control," he said.
In the aftermath, only cement blocks and what appeared to be a burned blanket remained at the site of the camp where the fire began, but there was another tent nearby.
[Last modified June 13, 2006, 01:04:09]
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