CCFR contains 45-acre brush fire in Black Diamond community, Lecanto, FL
Aerial photo by Jarey Schlabach courtesy of CCFR.
Lecanto (Citrus County), Florida - On Friday afternoon, March 3, 2023, at 2:58 pm, Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR) responded to W. Black Diamond Circle in Lecanto, due to a reported brush fire. Firefighters arrived on scene to find a multiple-acre brush fire near the guard shack located near the entrance to the Black Diamond community.
CCFR requested the assistance of the Florida Forest Service, which responded with three tractors to assist with containment. Due to high winds, the fire spread rapidly. Fire that was adjacent to the Black Diamond Ranch golf course was contained, and numerous commercial structures were also successfully protected from fire exposure. The Florida Forest Service will continue to monitor the area for any fire activity.
According to CCFR, the fire, which caused damage to 45 acres, was under control at 6:33 pm, 100% contained at 8:42 pm, and responders have cleared the scene. Fire lines have been secured, and mop up has been completed. The cause is unknown, and no injuries were reported.
“Our personnel, in conjunction with our partners at Florida Forest Service, were able to contain this dangerous fire quickly, despite the windy conditions, and protect multiple businesses from sustaining any damage,” said CCFR Fire Chief Craig Stevens.
Firefighters from the Hernando, Connell Heights, Citrus Springs, Pine Ridge and Kensington fire stations responded to the scene, along with a Safety Captain and two chief officers.
Citrus County Fire Rescue can be contacted by phone at (352) 527-5406, or in an emergency by dialing 911 within Citrus County, Florida. Visit online at www.CitrusCountyFire.com, Facebook.com/CitrusCountyFireRescue, or Twitter.com/CitrusCoFire.