Villagers grabbed garden hoses in the first assault on a 10-acre fire Saturday afternoon that scorched the Harold S. Schwartz Wildlife Preserve in the Village of Santiago.
Residents spotted the grass fire shortly before 2 p.m. burning in the owl and tortoise preserve. Homeowners instinctively grabbed their garden hoses and attempted to douse the flames.
However, the winds whipped and strengthened the fire.
Within minutes The Villages Public Safety Department arrived on the scene and took over the fight.
But even their ranks required mutual aid from the Sumter County and Marion County fire rescue departments.
sparks from a lawn mower are being blamed for igniting the blaze.
