• Okeechobee City Fire Department responded to 31 medical/EMS, four motor vehicle accident, two false alarm, eight canceled and one fire call between July 5 and July 18.

• Okeechobee County Fire Rescue responded to 215 medical/EMS, 15 motor vehicle accidents, 13 fire, four aircraft standby, five canceled and 22 miscellaneous calls over the last two weeks. Of 179 possible transports, nine were refused.

• On July 5 at approximately 5:15 a.m., OCFR and OCFD responded to a call regarding a building fire in the 100 block of Northwest 11th Avenue, the Fulford Plaza. Upon arrival, they found a single story strip mall with roll up type garage bays. Light smoke showed throughout the plaza with charged light smoke showing from the north end of the building in the BoxFit unit. They were able to gain access through the bay door using bolt cutters and found a small smoldering fire in the northeast corner of the building. The fire appeared to be contained to the boxing ring.

• On July 5 at approximately 8:15 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a possible structure fire in the 1000 block of Southwest 24th Avenue. When they arrived, they found all occupants out of the home and an electrical arching/popping coming from inside. The homeowner told them she heard a pop and smoke started coming from the bathroom hallway. Firefighters found a small heat signature in the bathroom coming from a wall mounted space heater. Electricity was turned off and an examination of the heater revealed a broken wire behind it. The homeowner was advised to call an electrician.

• On July 7 at approximately 2 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a rubbish fire in the 3200 block of Northwest Second Street. They found a brush fire started by a gas can which had been set on fire. Bystanders stated their children were starting small puddles of gasoline on fire with a lighter. No one was injured, and there was no property damage.

• On July 7 at approximately 3:30 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding unauthorized burning in the 4100 block of U.S. 441 South. They found a large pile of yard debris burning. The property manager was monitoring the fire but had no burn permit, tools or a hose to control the fire. The fire was extinguished and manager was advised of burn laws.

• On July 8 at approximately 12:30 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a power line down in the 29100 block of Northwest 72nd Avenue. They found a power line down with fire underneath. The fire extinguished itself. FP&L arrived, and the crew cleared the scene.

On July 10 at approximately 5:15 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding an electrical problem in the 15300 block of Northwest 56th Street. They found light smoke coming from a pine tree limb which had fallen on a power line. The wire was still intact and rain had extinguished the fire.

• On July 11 at approximately 8 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a passenger vehicle fire in the 4800 block of U.S. 98 North. They found a GMC pickup truck with its hood up. There were no visible flames or smoke. The owner told them he saw his transmission temperature rising and began to see smoke. When he opened the hood, there was a flash fire but it extinguished itself.

• On July 12 at approximately 3:45 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a building fire in the 2200 block of Northwest 42nd Avenue. As they approached, they noted a heavy black column of smoke in the area. Heavy smoke was trapped inside the building with small amounts being forced out through the large roll up doors. Inside the scrapyard was a vehicle on fire and a debris field on fire between the vehicle and the structure. There was also a burn area inside the structure at one of the work stations. A piece of heavy equipment was being utilized to move dirt and water to extinguish the fire. The fire fighters were able to enter the building and the remaining fire was extinguished. The owner told firefighters one of his employees had been removing fluids from a vehicle when the gas tank ignited. Employees were able to remove the vehicle from the lift and used extinguishers to try to keep the fire from spreading. They then used a loader to put dirt on the fire. One employee was injured during the event.

• On July 12 at approximately 1 p.m., OCFR responded to a call regarding a brush fire in the 15000 block of Northwest 282nd Street. They found a brush fire caused by lightning. The forest service arrived on the scene, and the fire was extinguished.