HIGHLANDS COUNTY — A fire that burned down the Rancher restaurant early Sunday morning was set deliberately, according to Sam Venzeio, State Fire Marshal spokesman. The 40-foot-wide-by-120-foot-long eatery was located at 15765 State Road 70, on the border of Highlands and Okeechobee counties, he said. The fire was called in at 1:12 a.m. Sunday. "We have developed a person of interest," Venzeio said Monday. "But, we're not releasing any name." One man, who is not a firefighter, was hospitalized at Okeechobee Hospital with serious burns and later was airlifted to Tampa General Hospital. His condition was unknown. ...more

June 23, 2008

The Red Cross is helping a family with five children find a new place to live after their home went up in flames this morning. The fire started about 9 a.m. at 4035 Johnson Road in Mulberry, Polk County public safety spokeswoman Kristin Guira said. ...more

June 20, 2008

The state fire marshal's office is investigating a fire that killed one person early Thursday. ...more

June 20, 2008

DUNDEE - Firefighters swam across a canal today to reach a fire at a rental resort that eventually destroyed a mobile home and a two-story wood house, Polk County Fire Rescue said. ...more

June 19, 2008

DADE CITY - The state fire marshal's office is investigating a fire that killed one person early today. ...more

June 19, 2008

DADE CITY - The state fire marshal's office is investigating a fire that killed one person early today. ...more

June 19, 2008

SEBRING — A fire in an empty home at 6925 Acorn Terrace late Friday, in the Spring Lake subdivision, was deliberately set, said State Fire Marshal Lt. Brandon Ball on Monday. State arson investigator Michael Douglas was called by firefighters to the scene off of Oak Knoll early Saturday. It was Douglas who determined the fire was arson. "It is an arson fire and we are working it with the Highlands County Sheriff's Office," Ball said. "An accelerant K-9 responded and it was deemed to be intentional." However, Ball would not say if the dog alerted to the presence of an accelerant or if the determination was made by a observations of the fire marshal investigator himself. The fire was actually lit in a playhouse in the back yard. But fortunately, firefighters also discovered a fire in a planter. ...more

June 16, 2008

BARTOW - A felon accused of possessing a hoax weapon of mass destruction will be held without bail, a judge in Polk County ruled this afternoon. ...more

June 12, 2008

More than two dozen firefighters contended with a house fire and natural gas leaks in Sarasota early this morning. ...more

June 12, 2008

A convicted felon was arrested Wednesday afternoon after deputies found what appeared to be a rocket launcher in the trunk of his car, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. ...more

June 12, 2008