A squirrel triggered a five-acre brush fire in the Buckingham, which destroyed the home of a local pastor.
It happened just after noon near Orange River Boulevard and River Grove Lane.
Tice Fire-Rescue happened to be on a training exercise nearby when they got the call about the blown transformer.
“I was working in my computer room and I had the window open. It was big explosion, like a ‘ba- bang!’ I walked up to my lanai and looked through the screened door and I saw fire immediately… smelled it immediately,” said resident Beverly Borges.
“Our response time was within three to four minutes,” said Assistant Fire Chief Ted Ross.
The fire is 100-percent contained. Orange River Boulevard was closed for the safety of the emergency responders. It reopened just before 4:30 p.m.
Florida Power & Light says 166 people were without power because of the transformer explosion and fire, but they expect to have them restored by late afternoon.
An FPL spokesperson says an investigation is needed before they determine if the utility has any liability in the fire.
Officials we spoke to say a squirrel is to blame for the fire. They say the squirrel was on the power and got too close to a transformer before causing a spark that set the animal on fire.
The say the squirrel then fell to the ground, starting the brush fire.
Fire crews in Lehigh Acres say four fires in as many days were started the same way.