Rollover Crash Causes Big Brush Fire in Florida

March 25, 2011
LAKE MACK, Fla. -- A brush fire caused by a crash just west of the Volusia-Lake County line reached 200 acres Thursday night. Sgt. Jim Vachon, of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, said a pickup truck crash caught a tree on fire and then the fire spread near County Road 42 and State Road 44 at about 6 p.m. Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol said C.R. 42 remained closed at S.R. 44 as flames burned in the Forest Hills area, near Lake Mack, as of 10 p.m.

LAKE MACK, Fla. --

A brush fire caused by a crash just west of the Volusia-Lake County line reached 200 acres Thursday night.

Sgt. Jim Vachon, of the Lake County Sheriff's Office, said a pickup truck crash caught a tree on fire and then the fire spread near County Road 42 and State Road 44 at about 6 p.m.

Officials with the Florida Highway Patrol said C.R. 42 remained closed at S.R. 44 as flames burned in the Forest Hills area, near Lake Mack, as of 10 p.m.

FHP said the truck involved in the crash overturned and burst into flames after rolling over several times. The male driver inside the truck was airlifted to Orlando Regional Medical Center, FHP said.

Officials at the scene said the fire had not damaged any homes, but they were concerned about 10 homes in the area.

Linda Laster said she was asleep when the fire started. She said her landlord woke her.

"He said, 'We need to get out of here fast,'" Laster said. "I said, 'What did you do this time?' He said, 'Come look out the door, ' and I did and I said, 'Oh my god.'"

She said outside her door were several fire trucks and helicopters buzzing around her home.

Residents and fire crews on the ground are hoping the wind doesn't shift. The other issue is water, officials said.

"We are drafting water from the river and supporting a super tanker and all the trucks are nursing off the super tanker," one firefighter said.

As of 10 p.m., the fire was about 50 percent contained. More than 50 firefighters and rescue workers remained at the scene.

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