Flames Engulfed Home In 10 Seconds, Owner Says
POSTED: Monday, May 12, 2008
UPDATED: 9:12 pm EDT May 12,2008
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MALABAR, Fla. -- One of two Central Floridians who watched their homes burn to the ground during a 2,300-acre fire said the wind-whipped flames engulfed his home in less than 10 seconds.
IMAGES: Homes Burned
Butch VanFleet's home located on Corey Road in Malabar was devoured in the blaze. "It was 5 or 10 seconds that it went right up to us," Butch VanFleet said. "You could feel the heat, it was intense." VanFleet has lived in his home for 23 years but Sunday night wind gusts sent embers on to his lot. He said firefighters quickly fled the area as the fire grew. "My son had already pickup up some clothes and he was screaming at me, 'Get out, get out,'" VanFleet said. "He pulled out and the fire truck pulled out because there was nothing they could do." The other Malabar home destroyed by flames belonged to Pat Randolph's family. "I cried, I was just crying because this was home," Pat Randolph said. "I watched the front yard burn yesterday. I watched the house next door burn down as I sat down across the street praying (mine) wouldn't be affected. Randolph said telling out of town relatives about what happened will be difficult. "All the memories and all the love and now I need to tell relatives," Randolph said. "We will move on," Randolph said. "We have a strong family, a very strong family. And I have a strong faith and this happened for whatever reason. I'm just thankful that nobody was here." Fires continued to burn in Malabar Monday afternoon. Families living near two destroyed homes on Corey Road in Malabar said they spotted a person throwing something out of a car minutes before flames ignited a 2,300-acre brush fire on Sunday. A short time later, a 17-mile stretch of I-95 was closed and homes were evacuated by Brevard County authorities. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
IMAGES: Homes Burned
Butch VanFleet's home located on Corey Road in Malabar was devoured in the blaze. "It was 5 or 10 seconds that it went right up to us," Butch VanFleet said. "You could feel the heat, it was intense." VanFleet has lived in his home for 23 years but Sunday night wind gusts sent embers on to his lot. He said firefighters quickly fled the area as the fire grew. "My son had already pickup up some clothes and he was screaming at me, 'Get out, get out,'" VanFleet said. "He pulled out and the fire truck pulled out because there was nothing they could do." The other Malabar home destroyed by flames belonged to Pat Randolph's family. "I cried, I was just crying because this was home," Pat Randolph said. "I watched the front yard burn yesterday. I watched the house next door burn down as I sat down across the street praying (mine) wouldn't be affected. Randolph said telling out of town relatives about what happened will be difficult. "All the memories and all the love and now I need to tell relatives," Randolph said. "We will move on," Randolph said. "We have a strong family, a very strong family. And I have a strong faith and this happened for whatever reason. I'm just thankful that nobody was here." Fires continued to burn in Malabar Monday afternoon. Families living near two destroyed homes on Corey Road in Malabar said they spotted a person throwing something out of a car minutes before flames ignited a 2,300-acre brush fire on Sunday. A short time later, a 17-mile stretch of I-95 was closed and homes were evacuated by Brevard County authorities. Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.
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