South Miami-Dade County grass fire that prompted hours-long closure of Turnpike is 90% contained

VIDEO: Crews have gotten the upper hand on a grass fire in South Miami-Dade that led to the hours-long closure of the Florida Turnpike during rush hour. More than 15 Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the area of Southwest 112th Avenue and 256th Street, just after 4 p.m., Wednesday. Officials shut down the Turnpike in both directions at 248th Street. Miami-Dade Police officers diverted traffic during rush hour onto Southwest 112th Avenue. Officials said the fire has burned approximately 20 acres. As of 9 p.m., it is 90% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service. The crew that initially arrived began a fire attack to knock down the fire in order to prevent the flames from reaching the roadway or homes in the area, officials said.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Firefighters contain blaze at 2-story home and barn in Indiantown

Firefighters were able to contain a house fire in Indiantown on Wednesday evening. Martin County Fire Rescue (MCFR) said firefighters responded to a structure fire at W Morgan Street just before 7 p.m. Crews said they found a 2-story home with a barn engulfed in flames. Firefighters worked quickly to prevent the blaze from spreading any further. Luckily, the occupants and pets inside were able to escape unharmed, MCFR said. Once the fire was knocked down, MCFR said the State Fire Marshal was handed over the scene for an investigation.
WTVX-TV CW 34 Fort Pierce

Southwest Miami-Dade County martial arts studio damaged in fire; no injuries

A Southwest Miami-Dade business was damaged by fire. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue units responded to the scene of the blaze at a martial arts studio located in a strip mall along the 9900 block of Southwest 142nd Avenue, Wednesday afternoon. Firefighters had to cut holes in the roof to put out the flames. Some of the glass at the entrance is broken, but no one was hurt.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Off-duty Miami Beach firefighter helps extinguish blaze after car in front of him erupts in flames

VIDEO: An off-duty Miami Beach firefighter jumped into actions when a fire erupted right in front of him. The firefighter was driving on Coral Way and Southwest 117th Avenue when the car in front of him burst into flames. The vehicle was on fire, sending heavy smoke into the air. The firefighter sprung into action, getting out of his car, found a hose after entering a backyard, and worked to extinguish the blaze. “I looked, and I saw a backyard right there, so I jumped it, I knocked on the door, nobody answered, I jumped it, and I saw, it was perfect, it was just a super long hose, and then I was able to pull the hose, go over, and try to put it out,” said Michael Saavedra, Miami Beach Fire Rescue. The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue showed up moments later to also help extinguish the flames.
WSVN-TV FOX 7 Miami

Rare donation from Bonita Springs fuels future firefighting careers for high school students

VIDEO: A rare donation from the city of Bonita Springs poured fuel on future firefighting careers at Ida Baker High School, Monday. That's when the Bonita Springs Fire Department donated a 2004 Pierce Quantum Pumper to the school's Fire Fighting Academy. They believe it will provide a richer hands-on experience for students in the early stages of their firefighting education. "This is actually unbelievable," said Chase Barnhill, a student who has been taking fire safety courses for two years. "We'll have plenty of time to be hands-on with this thing and do all kinds of tricks and toys and play with everything on it," he added. The Lee County School District praised the donation, emphasizing how it will offer unique training opportunities for students increasingly interested in the career path.
WFTX-TV FOX 4 Cape Coral

A New Beginning: Daytona Beach fire station construction could be complete by late 2025

PHOTOS: The design of the new Fire Station No. 1 is nearing completion, and construction could start this summer. The city recently released near-final design renderings of the new fire station complex, which will be close to four times as large as the current Station No. 1 that's been located on the southeast corner of Beach Street and Orange Avenue since the 1920s. The new 28,000-square-foot fire department headquarters, which will be built on Ridgewood Avenue a little south of City Hall, will have a very modern design with a roof contoured like a wave, red accents, floor-to-ceiling windows and exposed steel supports. The design will be in stark contrast to the current 99-year-old Station No. 1, a quaint 8,000-square-foot station with a Mediterranean look and bell tower that sits on the western bank of the Halifax River.
Daytona Beach News-Journal - Metered Site

Family and 3 dogs escape from San Carlos Park house fire

VIDEO: A family and their four dogs escaped a house fire in San Carlos Park on Tuesday morning. The San Carlos Park Fire Protection and Rescue Service District responded to the fire at the 7000 block of Jasmine Road around 11:30 a.m. Smoke could be seen pouring from the home. Everyone inside the home was able to get out safely. No one was injured. “I went and checked it out and it was smoking so first thing I did, obviously I got the dogs out the house,” homeowner Eric Nieves said. Fire crews worked to put out the smoke and search the home again. The fire was extinguished and confined to the attic, but smoke damage was prevalent throughout the home. The fire marshal is working to determine the cause of the fire. Lee County Public Safety, Estero Fire Rescue, Lee County Sheriff's Office and Florida Power & Light were at the scene.
WZVN-TV ABC 7 Naples