An illegal burn on a San Antonio property spun out of control on Saturday, March 28, exploding into a roughly 10-acre brush fire that chewed through several derelict campers and mobile homes and partially damaged the main residence. Fire crews raced to Tyndall Road and worked to box in the flames before they could jump to neighboring properties.
Pasco County Fire Rescue responded to the scene and was joined by the Florida Forestry Service and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. One firefighter suffered minor injuries while battling the blaze, and the person believed to have started the burn was issued a formal citation, according to the Tampa Free Press. Crews estimated the fire scorched about 10 acres along Tyndall Road before they finally got it contained.
Emergency Burn Ban Still In Play
All of this unfolded while Pasco County remains under an emergency burn ban that outlaws open burning of any kind, including campfires, bonfires and yard-waste burning, as long as drought indicators stay high. Local outlets covered the county’s announcement when the ban went into effect earlier this year; see Bay News 9 for background on the order.
Mutual Aid And On-Scene Damage
According to the Tampa Free Press, Pasco County Fire Rescue crews leaned on support from the Florida Forestry Service and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office as they knocked down hot spots and secured the area. The outlet reports that multiple derelict campers and mobile homes on the property were destroyed, and the main residence was left with partial damage.
Penalties For Violating The Burn Ban
Pasco County’s public notice states that enforcement of the burn ban is tied to county ordinance 46-73(c) and warns that violators can face criminal penalties or fines, according to the county release. Officials say the ban will stay in effect until conditions improve; see the Pasco County release for details on the order and how it is enforced.
How Residents Can Help
Officials are urging residents to report open-burning violations to the Pasco County Emergency Communications Center at 727-847-8102 so investigators can respond quickly, as listed by What’s What New Port Richey. Anyone who encounters an active or out-of-control fire should call 911 immediately and keep a safe distance so emergency crews can work without interference.
Why This Matters
With drought indicators such as the Keetch-Byram index running high across the region, officials warn that even a seemingly small, unattended burn can quickly morph into a destructive wildfire. The Tyndall Road blaze is the latest reminder that the county’s burn ban is designed to head off exactly this kind of incident and protect homes, property and first responders, according to county and local reporting.
