Okeechobee County Fire Rescue responded to 553 incidents between June 26 and July 23. These included 441 EMS,  12 smoke or fire, 27 motor vehicle accidents, 14 invalid assists, and 59 miscellaneous calls.

Below are a few of the highlights:

·      On July 4, OCFR responded to Taylor Creek Condos on U.S. 441 Southeast at approximately 1:45 p.m. regarding a passenger vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a vehicle smoldering. The owner and bystanders had extinguished the fire in the bed of the truck with a water hose. The owner explained he had been cooking on his tailgate with a pellet grill when he heard a breaker pop inside his house. When he returned after checking on it, he found his ruck on fire.

·      On July 4 at approximately 5:15 p.m., OCFR responded to Northwest 43^rd Avenue regarding a fire in a mobile home. When they arrived, they found a 30’ mobile home fully engaged. Neighbors reportedly said they saw the property owner inside the trailer before the fire, and then when it began smoking, saw his exit and walk away down the road. The fire marshal was contacted.

·      On July 8 at approximately 8 p.m., OCFR responded to Northwest 33^rd Avenue regarding a building fire. When they arrived, they found light smoke showing from the side of a single-story CBS house. Fire was spotted inside the kitchen. Owners told OCFR they did not need Red Cross and could stay with friends.

·      On July 10 at approximately 2:30 p.m., OCFR responded to Northeast Park Street regarding a vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a tractor trailer with smoke coming from its tires but no visible flames. The driver was cooling the brakes with water.

·      On July 15 at approximately 11 p.m., OCFR responded to Northwest Fifth Street regarding a mobile home fire. When they arrived, they found a fully involved single-story wood-frame home. Mobile structures on both sides of the home were involved as well. The property owner said he had no insurance on  the two trailers involved. The tenants of both trailers said they did not know how the fire started.

·      On July 17 at approximately 3 p.m., OCFR responded to Northeast Park Street regarding a passenger vehicle fire. When they arrived, they found a Dodge Charger with its hood open. The owner said he extinguished the fire under the hood himself.

·      On July 20 at approximately 3:30 a.m., OCFR responded to Southwest 11^th Avenue regarding a motor vehicle accident with no injuries. When they arrived, they found OCPD and OCSO already on the scene. Fences were damaged and a vehicle was inside a shed in the backyard of a home. The vehicle had crashed through the doorway and connected wall and was still running.