Local fire officials now say that early morning blaze at a home on Brynwood Lane out in the Kissimmee River Estates has a fatality involved. The call came in shortly after 2:00 this morning. Units from Sun ‘N Lakes South, Highlands Park, Lorida and Lake Placid worked the blaze.
The fire was in a remote location near the Okeechobee county line. The trailer reportedly was totally destroyed. The State Fire Marshal’s office has been called in to investigate.
Those same units had been called out about 5:00 last night to a trailer fire on County Road 29. They were able to contain it to a bedroom and a hallway. Authorities say a space heater too close to combustibles is being blamed there.
One firefighter apparently fell through the floor during the operation, but was not seriously hurt. No dollar damage estimate has been released but the family there reportedly has been displaced.
Four people reportedly now have applied to fill the seat left vacant with the death of former Avon Park vice mayor Stanley Spurlock. Among those looking to serve out the remainder of Spurlock’s term are former Avon Park Mayor Sharon Schuler, perennial city council candidate Ed Dickerson, former Highlands County commission candidate Carmello Garcia and Alvin Dallas – a caseworker for the Heartland Coalition for the Homeless.
The application deadline is set to close this Friday, January 22nd. The council is slated to pick a successor at their February 8th meeting.