Marion County Fire Rescue crews were called to the Silver Springs RV Resort Monday morning after an Air Force veteran reported seeing his vehicle on fire and hearing explosions.
Crews from Lynne Fire Station #4 and Anthony Fire Station #1 arrived on scene about seven minutes later to find a vehicle and nearby shed fully involved in flames, as well as a minor grass fire.
Firefighters immediately deployed two hose lines to extinguish the blaze and had “water on the fire” in less than two minutes. Operations Engine Company #33 also assisted. And the fire was deemed under control at 11:55 a.m., with the cause still under investigation, a Marion County Fire Rescue report states.
Firefighters soon learned that the victim of the blaze., who served 23 years in the Air Force, was upset because his American flag had been damaged from radiant heat from the fire. So, the crew from Engine Company #33 properly retired the damaged flag. And after clearing the call, they purchased a new flag and presented it to the veteran, who praised them for going “above and beyond” the call of duty.
