Hillsborough County Fire Rescue crews bring a brush fire turned structure fire under control in Riverview on Wednesday afternoon. The flames engulfed and destroyed two unoccupied mobile homes at 4810 Foxye Ln.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) units responded with full force to a call about a 10-acre brush fire Wednesday afternoon that quickly turned into a structure fire near the US 301/I-75 interchange, on Foxye Ln. at Foxworth Rd. in Riverview.
It took about two hours for the 20 fire rescue units and approximately 50 firefighters, along with members of the Florida Division of Forestry, to bring the flames under control and block the fire reaching the nearby residential area.
Unfortunately, it was too late for the two mobile homes on the property at 4810 Foxye Ln, which were destroyed by the flames. Thankfully there were no injuries.
The cause of the fire is not known, but according to Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spokesperson Ray Yeakley other than the flames on the ground, emergency units were also concerned about the fire affecting the TECO power lines as well as the smoke that was making its way east across US 301 and I-75.
“Though mostly contained, firefighters were hitting some of the hot spots still smoldering. The Florida Highway Patrol and Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputies are continuing to monitor traffic in and around the immediate area,” Yeakley said.
As of Wednesday evening the I-75 south bound ramp to US 301 remained closed, while HCFR units continued to monitor the fire due to further concern of overnight (Feb. 15) fog developing in the area. The smoke combined with the fog may create dangerous visibility conditions for drivers.
TECO crews continue assessing the power lines damaged by the fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.
For more information please visit www.hillsboroughcounty.org/firerescue/press/
