Chapter Twelve - Forest Fire Control
Thirty years ago, there was no organized forest fire suppression in the State of Florida. Then, it was all open range and cattlemen set fires that burned, out of control, damaging not only the forests but also citrus groves, buildings or any other materials in their paths.
There were many who felt that some control was needed. Among these were Mr. Alexander Blair and the State Forester, Mr. Harry Lee Baker. Mr. Blair made available, a specially built woods fire truck for each of the communities of Lake Placid, DeSoto City, Sebring and Avon Park and the volunteer fire departments in these communities gave their time and hard work in suppressing woods fires in all of Highlands County.
It must not be imagined, for one moment that this was a simple matter. It was the most frustrating drudgery of all the projects undertaken and necessitated businessmen and other citizens neglecting their livelihoods sometimes for a full day to work hard and gratuitously in some remote section of the backwoods.
As there were very few laws and as the few that did exist were not understood, the fire fighters did not realize that the land owner had a right to burn on his own property so long as it did not go beyond his boundaries. As a result, the firemen pounced upon every woods fire and often found that as fast as they extinguished the fires, the cattleman would follow them at a distance, setting new ones. In this manner, co-operation was completely lacking.
Highlands County was the first in the state to have county-wide control and the experience gained here, was helpful in setting up the later program of the state. This should be considered as one of the major accomplishments of the Sebring Firemen and a tremendous contribution to the advancement of the State and County.