Let’s Hear it From Worth County

At 1:30 A.M. this morning- E-911 dispatched emergency units as they received several calls regarding two structure fires reported off Hwy 82 in Sumner. The two structures  in flames were very visible in the dark from the highway, about a mile east of College Road. A Worth County Deputy was first to arrive on scene reporting the structures located at a close distance apart. Worth County Fire/Rescue was quickly on scene and doused flames that were nearing farm crops within 40 minutes.

A slow burn was allowed however, to finish off the old buildings that were apparently unused and unsafe structures, for ‘easier clean-up to the owner’. A deputy made extra trips to the area to ensure flames did not burn out of perimeter. While the gestures were generous of the county, are their services being taken advantage of?

WCFR Chief Lyn Ford said today the structures that burned last night in Sumner had no electricity connected to them and they were not insured, so no investigation will take place. He added however, the fires were clearly started purposely. “They were a good ways apart from each other. Somebody had to set both of them.” The farm houses were located on the same farm land but situated about 200 yards apart. When the property owner was informed of the destroyed structures, he allegedly responded, “I guess somebody got tired of looking at them.”

On June 23, a fire destroyed a Sylvester mobile home on Hill Top Road. The home had reportedly been vacant for ten years. It was reported there was no electricity in the home and the dilapidated structure was not insured, therefore no investigation followed.

In December, two adjoined mobile homes burned as numerous fire and rescue units responded to Jones Road to douse the fully involved flames. The structures had been empty since 2002. Property owners believe a cigarette left burning in nearby overgrown grass may have started the fire. They stated they were at the empty home earlier that day attempting to tear down the structures. No electricity was connected to the home and the structure was uninsured.

In old structures, such as the farm houses that burned throughout last night, it can take only moments for the structure to collapse to the ground when the fire evolves. It does make for easier and cheaper clean-up; and where warnings and complaints regarding code violations have been issued, it can save a great deal of labor and time. Worth County’s quick response units ensure no other structures are harmed or fires are spread. That water, labor, and time is bought and paid for by Worth County and the cities within. In some cases, these unexplained fires eliminate eyesores and may serve as a boon to neighboring homes and passers-by. With that said, do you feel such incidents should undergo investigation (also costly) as an arson case with charges applied to those found guilty of the crime? Comments open at page bottom:

Photos below taken Friday  morning of the smoldering remains of two Sumner farm houses that burned to the ground while farm irrigation pumps water over surrounding  unaffected  crops.: