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Witness say the tank fell from the truck, spilling it contents then two men picked up the tank and fled the scene. Firefighters arrived to find the oil spread across the intersection with cars slipping and sliding through the oil.

St. Johns County Sheriffs Officers directed traffic around the oil spill while firefighters worked to contain the oil, keeping it out of storm drains and laying absorbent on it. Florida DOT responded to the scene with a track filled with sand and spread the sand over the oil to soak it up and make the road passably again. The road was opened after about an hour.

Engine 14 and USAR 4 responded to the scene along with Battalion 2. There were no reports of any injuries associated with the spill and the road was closed with traffic diverted from the oil before any accidents occurred on the slippery road.

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Take a minute to stop by and say hello, donate a few bucks and be sure to say thank you. These are the professionals that sit out there day in and day out, in the hot sun watching over you and your family while you enjoy the beaches.

For more information regarding the St. Augustine Lifesaving Association and its events, please contact Karissa Ickes by calling 904-540-4255.

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Firefighters from Squad 5 and Rescue 5 were on the scene within minutes of the call and extinguished the fire very quickly. Engine 11 and Engine 43 also responded to the scene. There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire and the damaged appeared to be minor and contained to the kitchen of the home.

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Firefighters from St. Johns County Fire Rescue arrived to find the front of the home heavily involved in fire. With homes on either side of the fire within feet of the burning structure, exposures were a concern though neither of the neighboring homes suffered damage from the fire.

A St. Johns County Sheriffs Deputy arrived prior to firefighters and assisted occupants out of the home. Firefighters knocked the fire down very quickly but the fast moving fire had already gutted the structure. Investigators from St. Johns County Fire Rescue where called to the scene to determine a cause and while details have not been releases, early reports lean towards arson as a cause for this fire.

Sheriff’s Deputies detained a woman near the fire scene for questioning but what her involvement may have been has not been released at this time. Early reports indicate that arson may have been the cause of the fire but that has not been officially confirmed at this time.

The American Red Cross sent representatives to the scene to assist the property owner after the fire. There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire.

Responding units included Tanker 8, Engine 8, Rescue 8, Ladder 6 and Engine 6.

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Firefighters laddered the roof and began checking air conditioning units and electrical sources within the store while employees and customers alike stood in the hot afternoon sun waiting to enter the building again. Most of the customers left the property and deputies from the St. Johns County Sheriff’s office closed the entrances to the parking area.

During the course of the incident, I ventured into the parking lot about halfway between the building and US 1 and spent ten minutes shooting images of the incident. As a former firefighter and credentialed member of the local media, I have never been told I was too close to an incident. I have been asked to make sure I did not get in the way by police officers, but today I was approached by an Asset Protection employee who informed me that the “…building might blow up.” He then told me to stay out on US 1.

After a lot of discussion, I decided I would stand off the property line with a 300 mm lens and shoot from there. Wal Mart at its finest.

Needless to say, Wal Mart did not blow up. There were no injuries reported during the incident and firefighters believe the source of the smoke to be from electrical equipment inside the store. An electrician was called to remedy the issue as firefighters cleared the scene.

Thank you, Wal Mart, for protecting me from blowing up…or maybe, good job denying the press access to an incident and covering your own ASSets!!

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Firefighters from St. Augustine Fire Department along with units from St. Johns County Fire Rescue arrived on Grant street and were met with heavy smoke issuing from the building. An aggressive attack was made on the fire, knocking it down quickly though smoke continued to roll out of the eaves for some time.

Assist Fire Chief John Rayno said, “..we are sure it is an arson but we are bringing in the Fire Marshal’s office to determine where and how the fire started.” One of the tenents that lives in the building has an elderly mother she cares for living with her and while the fire drove them out of the house this morning, neither were injured and there did not appear to be damage to their unit.

Crews where on scene for about and hour after the fire was extinguished removing smoke from the building and continually checking the attic with a thermal imaging camera to ensure nothing got overlooked that could rekindle later.

There were no injuries reported as a result of the fire and while fire officials believe they know who started the fire, a formal announcement regarding that part of the investigation has no been made.

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When firefighters went outside to investigate, they found that a car had struck the station after hitting several signs and a flagpole out front. While the cause of the crash is not known yet, the car left the road and collided with the corner of the station, cracking the building.

Asst. Chief John Rayno said the building has been hit multiple times since it was opened in its current location in 1958. One accident actually took out the front wall of the station and the trees around the station have many scars on them from previous accidents there.

The driver of Sunday’s crash was transported to Flagler Hospital in St. Augustine for evaluation. Details surround the accident have not been released nor has a condition of the driver. No one in the station was hurt and while the cost to repair the station has not been determined, damage appears to be limited to the flag pole and corner of the station.

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Firefighters arrived finding light smoke coming from the home and made the decision to enter the building, making a rapid attack on the fire inside. The fire, contained to the kitchen area of the home, was put out very quickly. The amount of damage to the home is unknown as firefighters were not able to release information at the scene.

A neighbor who lives across the street said, “..she came running out of the house screaming. That was right before the fire trucks showed up.” When asked if there was smoke or fire coming from the home at that time, he said, “There was smoke coming out. I didn’t see the fire but I believe it started in the microwave.”

The occupant of the home sat on the lawn watching as firefighters went in and out of the residence and was joined by several other women that arrived later. Firefighters spent some time talking with the occupant and the other women but she was not available for comment.

The incident is under investigation by the St. Johns County Fire Departments investigation unit and there where no reports of injuries from the scene.

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St. Augustine, FL – The 911 tapes containing more than 11 minutes of calls leading up to the moment of the accident on Wildwood Drive that killed Shea Burchfield that Thursday afternoon were released by the St. Johns county Sheriff’s Office on Tuesday afternoon.

With multiple callers reporting the maroon and gray F150 that struck Burchfield all over the road, one has to wonder why it took so long to get the truck stopped. Several callers reported the truck weaving in and out of traffic on I95 while he traveling south, finally exiting the highway at exit 311 and turning north onto SR 207.

Several minutes later, another caller reported the truck traveling east on Wildwood Drive and multiple times told dispatchers that the truck “…almost wrecked.” Moments later, after traveling nearly two miles down Wildwood Drive, the driver struck the Honda being ridden by Shea Burchfield.

While the FHP report states that Burchfield turned in front of the truck, the tapes indicate the driver of the truck weaved over and struck Burchfield. While the report released from the FHP does indicate a pending blood alcohol test for 50-year-old Fredrick Andrews, the driver of the truck, he has not been charged or taken into custody.

Why was this man not charged? If not DUI, how about reckless driving or vehicular homicide? Many people are asking and at this time, there does not seem to be an answer. If not for the public, how about an answer for the family?

In the end, the system allowed this accident to happen. Jurisdictional boundaries, confusions from callers and long response times all contributed in the end.

Services for Shea Burchfield are being held on Wednesday, July 14, 2010 at the Craig Funeral Home with visitation at 10:00 am and the service starting at 11:00 am. A burial service will be held immediately following the service at the Craig Memorial Park.

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NEWS RELEASE:

Members of the St. Johns Sheriff’s Office Traffic Unit traveled to Orlando last Friday to attend the Florida Law Enforcement Challenge Awards Ceremony, and returned home as winners of a 2010 Chevrolet Camaro Police Cruiser.

The Florida Law Enforcement Challenge is a competition between similar size and types of law enforcement agencies, which recognizes and rewards the best overall traffic safety programs in the state. The areas of concentration include efforts to educate the public and enforce laws regarding occupant protection, impaired driving, unsafe speeds, and other areas of traffic safety concerns.  Agencies submit an application that documents their efforts and effectiveness in these areas. The winning safety programs were those that combine officer training, increased public awareness through public information outreach and enforcement efforts to reduce crashes and injuries within their respective jurisdictions.

Members of the Unit were awarded a certificate recognizing the Sheriff’s Office as first place winner in their respective category and were given an opportunity to win a 2010 Chevy Camaro for their efforts.  Each of the agencies who were selected drew a key from a fishbowl and attempted to start the vehicle.  Corporal Robin Juratovac drew the key that won the car for SJSO.  The Camaro which was presented equipped for duty is emblazoned with the logos of the Law Enforcement Challenge and will be placed into service with The Traffic Enforcement Unit soon.

This program is financed through grants from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and the National Highway Traffic safety Administration (NHTSA). St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, said “it is well known that an increase in traffic enforcement in a community results in a decrease in motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities”.

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