A weekend off-roading excursion turned into a 20-acre wildfire in the Ocala National Forest after a vehicle’s exhaust system ignited dry grass.
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Lake County Fire Rescue firefighting crews responded to the “Grassy Pond 3 Fire” located off Paisley Road on Saturday, April 11.
According to the USFS, the fire was caused by a 4×4 vehicle that was driven off a designated trail and into a patch of soft ground.
The vehicle became stuck, and despite recent rainfall in the area, the surrounding tall grass had dried enough to be ignited by the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system.
The operators and bystanders were unable to free the vehicle, which was declared a total loss.
Firefighters managed to confine the blaze within a few hours and halted its forward progress. Crews returned to the scene on Sunday morning to “mop up” any remaining hot spots.
Authorities noted that the fire, which consumed 20.5 acres, was contained by a surrounding dirt road system. Officials warned that the blaze could have grown significantly larger had it not been for the nearby roads and the rapid response from fire resources.
On Sunday, the U.S. Forest Service issued a stern reminder to visitors that driving off designated trails and surfaces is both unwise and illegal on forest land.
In this incident, the tall grass concealed the soft ground that trapped the vehicle, leading to the accidental ignition.
Forest officials cautioned that anyone who starts an uncontrolled fire on forest land, whether accidental or deliberate, may be cited, fined, or assessed for the full cost of fire suppression efforts.