Stations 5, 9, 19, and 27 responded to a  house and woods fire in the 1700 block of Wesley Chapel Ave. at 1747, Tuesday 17-February.  The fire had evidently been burning for sometime before a motorist reported the fire on this isolated stretch of rural road, northwest of Cottageville. Engine 9 and Medic 9 were on scene in 7 minutes, reporting a large fast moving woods/field fire with a doublewide mobile home almost completely destroyed. A singlewide mobile home located 100 feet from the burning structure was threatened. Firefighters used two 1-3/4 handlines to extinguish the mobile home and protect the adjacent structure. A tractor from the Forestry Commission was also dispatched.

Firefighters were on the scene for 1-1/2 hours extinguishing the remains of the mobile home. The tractor plowed a fire line around the four acre woods fire. The mobile home was vacant and had no power. The cause of the fire is under investigation to determine if a grass fire extended to the structure or if the building was intentionally set on fire. The Sheriff’s Office is assisting.