A residential structure fire in the 6900 block of Ella Street in Bagdad represents the third candle to be extinguished on the 2012 Keep Your Holidays Bright fire safety tree. Santa Rosa County Emergency Communications received a call at 5:56 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 30 with the first crews arriving on scene at 6:02 p.m. The house was a total loss, and the state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. The American Red Cross was called to assist one resident displaced by the fire. Fire fighters from Bagdad, Avalon, East Milton, Skyline and Milton fire departments responded. The first two candles were extinguished in late December when two mobile home fires were reported in Navarre. The first happened Dec. 22 when a residential structure fire in the 1900 block of Church Street in the Midway Fire District caught fire. This fire represented the first candle extinguished on the Keep Your Holidays Bright fire safety tree. Santa Rosa Emergency Communications was notified of the fire in a mobile home at 2:18 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 22. Crews arrived on scene at 2:20 p.m., and the fire was under control by 2:35 p.m. Units from Midway, Gulf Breeze and Holley-Navarre responded. The fire, believed to be started by a space heater, destroyed the camper and displaced one adult. The American Red Cross was called to assist. No one was injured; however, a pet dog was lost in the fire. The second fire was in the 8400 block of Sevilla Street in Navarre. The fire was fully involved when crews arrived on scene at 6:01 a.m. The one resident of the home was transported to Gulf Breeze Hospital in stable condition for smoke inhalation. The mobile home was a total loss and the state fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire. Holley-Navarre, Navarre Beach, Midway and Florosa fire departments responded. Santa Rosa County emergency service agencies are teaming up for the sixth year to promote fire safety during the month of December with the “Keep Your Holidays Bright” campaign. While a joyous time of year, cold weather, holiday decorations and festivities can create serious fire dangers. Fire fighters hope to reduce the number of fires in Santa Rosa County by promoting simple, life-saving holiday safety tips throughout the month. In the first year nine candles were extinguished on the safety tree, three in the second year, six in the 2009 campaign, four in 2010 and six in 2011. For more fire safety tips, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Bagdad fire is third in two weeks