Fireworks Ruled Cause of FishHawk Brush Fire

Fire investigators say juveniles playing with fireworks caused the brush fire in Lithia on March 29 that threatened homes and caused the evacuation of students from the FishHawk Early Learning Center at Bevis Elementary School.

"There were witnesses that stated that a few teenagers playing with fireworks in the area affected by the fire prior to the incident," according to a Hillsborough County Fire Rescue report.

An investigation determined "that the cause of the fire was a result of fireworks," the report adds. "Several juveniles were playing with fireworks in the area. Some of those fireworks landed in a brush area that was very dry. The fire was categorized as accidental."

Officials report that the juveniles inovled, and their parents, will be placed "in an intervention program designed to educate, train, and show the consequences of a fire."

Firefighters responded to the fire after receiving the first 911 call at around 3 p.m., according to the Hillsborough County Fire Rescue report. Responders on the scene found a large brush fires in the area of 5720 Osprey Ridge.

"Immediately a second alarm was called because of the danger that these structures were facing," the report notes, in reference to the homes and the school in danger.

Ten acres were involved and Florida Forestry firefighters also were called to the scene.

"Because of the quick action of all the fire rescue crews on scene, the fire was stopped at the fence line located about 20 to 30 feet from a few homes," the report notes.

Fences to two homes, made out of PVC, "burned and melted from the exposure to heat and flames." The report adds that it took about one hour to get the fire under control.

In all, 20 units and about 40 fire rescue personnel responded to the scene. There were no reports of injuries to civilians or fire rescue personnel.

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Earlier:

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is on the scene of a brush fire at 5720 Osprey Ridge Dr., Lithia, in FishHawk Ranch.

Firefighters responded at about 2:45 p.m. Friday, March 29, to discover several hot spots they are now working to control.

Residents, describing the fire as "huge," are reporting that the fire is located near the skate park on Osprey Ridge Drive and that the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office has closed Osprey Ridge in front of Bevis Elementary School.

Fire Rescue says they have evacuated the students at the FishHawk Early Learning Center at Bevis. Officials say the fire is threatening some homes but some homes in Meadowpark were evacuated.

Resident Matthew Proctor said Fire Rescue now has the flames under control.

"It was pretty frantic for a bit there," reported Proctor on the FishHawk Ranch Neighborhood Facebook page. "The fire was probably about 10 to 20 feet from some of the homes in Parkside Village. Neighbors were all out with hoses spraying water on the foliage to try to keep it from spreading. The fire department did a great job getting it under control quickly."