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Families Home After Suspicious 1,000-Acre Wildfire Forces Evacuations
POSTED: 3:30 pm EDT May 21,
2008
UPDATED: 4:15 pm EDT May 22,
2008
PAISLEY, Fla. -- Families forced out of their homes overnight by wildfires in Lake County were able to return to their homes Thursday at 1:00pm. Fire crews were still fighting the blaze Thursday that has consumed more than 1,000 and it is considered suspicious.
SLIDESHOW: Aerial Images Show Wildfire Raging In Lake County
RAW VIDEO: SkyWitness 9 Shows Wildfire Raging In Lake County
SHELTER: First Baptist Church Of Paisley (see map)
INFORMATION LINE: 352-253-9999
The fire remained 20 percent contained Thursday afternoon, but rain is expected to provide some relief.Families forced out of their homes and into a shelter by the wildfires loaded pillows and blankets into their cars Thursday morning. At least 21 people slept at First Baptist Church of Paisley at 25145 Fisherman's Road (see map), all residents of the 90 Deer Haven homes (see map) that were evacuated. The evacuation was lifted at 1:00pm Thursday.Dozens of firefighters were able to keep the 1,000-acre blaze away from homes, but they worry that wind shifts could put residents and homes back in danger.Dorothy Cross was one of the few allowed back into her home for just a minute or two Thursday morning, before the evacuation was lifted, and only because it was an emergency."I left in such a hurry yesterday that I didn't get my medicine, and I need to go home," she said.It will likely be days before the fire is completely contained, but for now it only threatens the massive Ocala National Forest. Crews are still investigating the exact cause.
SLIDESHOW: Aerial Images Show Wildfire Raging In Lake CountyRAW VIDEO: SkyWitness 9 Shows Wildfire Raging In Lake CountySHELTER: First Baptist Church Of Paisley (see map)INFORMATION LINE: 352-253-9999The fire remained 20 percent contained Thursday afternoon, but rain is expected to provide some relief.Families forced out of their homes and into a shelter by the wildfires loaded pillows and blankets into their cars Thursday morning. At least 21 people slept at First Baptist Church of Paisley at 25145 Fisherman's Road (see map), all residents of the 90 Deer Haven homes (see map) that were evacuated. The evacuation was lifted at 1:00pm Thursday.Dozens of firefighters were able to keep the 1,000-acre blaze away from homes, but they worry that wind shifts could put residents and homes back in danger.Dorothy Cross was one of the few allowed back into her home for just a minute or two Thursday morning, before the evacuation was lifted, and only because it was an emergency."I left in such a hurry yesterday that I didn't get my medicine, and I need to go home," she said.It will likely be days before the fire is completely contained, but for now it only threatens the massive Ocala National Forest. Crews are still investigating the exact cause.
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