Brouhaha erupts from flames of brush fire

As a wildfire raged around the homes of Bayport last week, county firefighters began calling for help.

First they recruited within their department and then from Brooksville and Spring Hill Fire Rescue.

Who didn't get a call?

The Hernando Beach Volunteer Fire Department, six miles away, with two brush trucks ready to go and a tanker truck laden with 3,000 gallons of water.

As heavy winds spread the fire, the High Point Volunteer Fire Department notified the county they had two firefighters ready to respond with a tanker truck full of water.

The offer was declined.

The fire chiefs of both departments are at a loss to explain the county's actions and, frankly, are mad at the perceived slight.

"If they want to play the isolation game like before, it's their loss," Steve Nolan said Wednesday from Hernando Beach.

In High Point, Chief Rob Paul didn't mince words: "One of these times he's going to pull this foolishness and someone is going to die."

The target of their ire is the county's assistant chief, Frank DeFrancesco, who directed the firefighting efforts in Bayport.

On Wednesday, DeFrancesco explained.

High Point has a service agreement with the county, not a mutual aid agreement. If there's a fire and the firefighters need help, they contact the county and are billed.

"It only goes one way," he said.

On that specific day, DeFrancesco said he didn't have any issues with water supply. He had enough tankers on scene to keep the engines supplied and nearby hydrants on Shoal Line Boulevard in the event a refill was needed.

In other words, "I didn't need them," DeFrancesco said.

As for Hernando Beach, DeFranceso said he was prepared to call on them if the fire turned south and into their district.

The assistant chief added that Pasco and Citrus County fire departments did not respond to the fire and that the east side of the county was covered for fire services. Everyone working the fire was on duty and no overtime was reported, he said.