Brush Fire Breaks Out Behind Sutherland Elementary

Palm Harbor Fire Rescue firefighters worked quickly to extinguish a small brush fire behind Sutherland Elementary School on Wednesday afternoon.

Emergency 911 dispatchers got the call about 1:51 p.m. The fire broke out on a strip of land behind the school where Progress Energy power lines are located.

Initial reports were that a transformer pole popped and caught on fire. Two high-tension power lines also came down, which may have caused the brush fire, according to Palm Harbor Fire Rescue spokesperson Liz Monforti.

Monforti says that the blaze was about 50 feet in radius and was extinguished a short time after firefighters arrived on scene. It was windy when the fire broke out.

Children at Sutherland Elementary were playing outside when the fire engines arrived behind their school. They gathered along the school's chain link fence to see what was going on.

Progress Energy crews also responded to the blaze.

The power lines are located in a brushy area behind the school. The power lines run in a north-south direction parallel to Belcher Rd and extend into the Innisbrook Golf Resort. As the accompanying photos show, firefighters also approached the fire from a road in Innisbrook. 

No injuries were reported.

Sutherland Elementary School is located at 3150 N. Belcher Rd.; (727) 724-1466

• Thanks to Patch reader Rick Bennett for sharing his photos.

Want more updates and news about your community? Sign up for the free Palm Harbor Patch email newsletter.

Related-

• A History of the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue Department
• Woman Critically Injured in Condo Fire
• Dog-Loving Firefighters Rescue Canines
• Photos: Palm Harbor Middle Beats Firefighters in Basketball Fundraiser