June 29, 1998--10 p.m.
Cindy Hancock Finney
Community Information SpecialistHOUSE BELIEVED TO BE UNOCCUPIED DESTROYED IN OSTEEN FIRE WHICH THREATENED 171 HOMES
A small 30X30 house believed to be unoccupied burned Monday afternoon in a fire which also threatened 171 homes in the Piney Woods subdivision in Osteen. The cause of the fire is under investigation by the State Fire Marshal's Office.
"The house on Smith Road, along with two cars and a boat, were burned to the ground before firefighters arrived", said Liz Glasgow with Volusia County Fire Services. "Firefighters on the scene talked to neighbors who said the owners had left months ago".
Volusia County firefighters, Deltona firefighters and two Division of Forestry tractors worked to protect the subdivision. Some 150 acres were burned.
The loss of a structure today brings to about 16 structures lost in the fire. The other 15 structures were hunting camps, also in the Osteen area.
Volusia Fire Chief Jim Tauber Monday addressed emergency management workers and urged them to remain focused because the fires aren't over yet.
"These fires are dangerous and they are incredibly unpredictable", he said. "Our first priority continues to be to prevent public injury and save structures."
The total acreage burned or burning remains at about 80,000. Quick action by firefighters so far has saved an estimated 9,000 structures which were threatened by fires. The number of active fires remains at about 10-12.
Firefighting efforts Tuesday will concentrate on the northwest section of Lafayette Landing, the Piney Woods area off Smith where the home burned today and other areas in the Lake Harney/southeast Volusia area.
The Volusia County Citizens Information Center hotline continues to field about 50-80 calls an hour. The CIC is open from 6 a.m.-midnight. The telephone numbers are (904) 736-5902 in West Volusia; (904) 254-4658 in Daytona Beach or (904) 423-3358 in New Smyrna Beach.
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