NewsBreak Original

We visited the Amtrak Train Station in Okeechobee, Florida. We give you a full train station tour. We have been on the Amtrak at this stop before, but never toured the train station. What did we find?

With Spring approaching, Florida's yearly drying out is upon us. Multiple wildfires have been starting due to various reasons. One of those reasons is agricultural equipment. Many ranchers are baling up hay and with dry grass and low humidity, some of these machines are catching fire. On Tuesday, March 1, Florida Forest Service and Okeechobee County Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire off of Dark Hammock Road. Okeechobee County proceeded to use their brush truck to fight the fire from the black (burned) area. The fire was quickly brought under control and the owner lost approximately 3 acres of his hayfield. After an investigation, it was determined that the tractor being used had heated up grass and started the fire.

2/21/2022- Okeechobee County, Fl. A hay baler caught fire Sunday and caused approximately 20 acres of a field to burn. Florida Forest Service was contacted by a local rancher after his equipment caught fire. 2 dozer/plow units were dispatched and proceeded to put breaks around the fire in order to stop it's forward progression. The dozers performed a pinching maneuver to contain the fire in the shortest time possible. The Okeechobee County Fire Department dispatched a brush truck to help put out the burning hay bales and to also mop up the edges to help put the fire out. The fire had burned close to a barn and some other structures used for storage and equipment. Approximately 50 round hay bales were lost in the fire. The cost of the damaged equipment totaled about $25,000. This is not including any fences that were burnt or damaged.

An early evening brushfire was contained after 6 hours of firefighting. The Okeechobee County Fire Department and a unit from the Florida Forest Service were on scene. After initially being called to a 5 acre brushfire, a member of the Okeechobee Fire Department noticed a small smoke column coming from the east about 1/2 mile. After sending units to investigate, it was determined that material from the original fire had had started another brushfire a short distance away in a solar panel field. A fire department brush truck and a dozer from the Florida Forest Service entered the solar panel field and started firefighting tactics. The Forest Service dozer went in front of the fire and put in a plow line to slow the spread. The fire department brush truck then followed up with water to make sure the fire was extinguished at the line. The brush truck then proceeded to patrol the plow lines in the solar field looking for any signs that fire may have gotten out. The fire had quickly spread around the property and had crept under solar panels in some areas. There was no information about any damage done to the panels by the fire.

Early Morning Fire Burns Down House At Spot in the Sun Community. Residents of the Spot in the Sun community of Okeechobee County were awakened to a neighbors house in flames. Okeechobee County Fire Department was alerted to the blaze by a local resident who was en route to work. Because of the rural area that Spot in the Sun is located, the Florida Forest Service was called and put on standby in case the fire spread into the surrounding brush. The resident explained that she had just started leaving for work when she spotted a dark, black column. She immediately called the fire department. When she noticed how close to the surrounding dry brush the structure was, she then called the Florida Forest Service. There are no details yet due to the incident being under investigation.

Southern Wildfire Potential February 2022Predictive Services- National Interagency Fire Center. Wildfire Potential March 2022Predictive Services- National Interagency Fire Center.

Lake Okeechobee is the largest freshwater lake in Florida. Is also known as Florida’s Inland Sea. Has beautiful flora and a great abundance of fauna. Thanks for Watching friends! Follow for more adventures!