Published: February 12, 2026
Bartow, Fla. (Feb. 12, 2026) — Polk County Fire Rescue (PCFR) crews responded to a small brush fire that quickly spread to several structures in Lakeland on Thursday afternoon.
Polk County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched at 2:14 p.m. and arrived on scene minutes later to find the brush fire quickly spreading to a house. Two other structures on the property were already fully involved. Another structure and a semi-trailer on an adjacent property were partially involved.
Upon arrival, the first Battalion Chief on scene helped evacuate the owner of the house, who retired as an engineer from PCFR 13 years ago. The homeowner suffered a minor injury and was treated on scene. Crews simultaneously began fighting the brush fire and the structure fires.
The scene was closed at 5:19 p.m. after crews put out the fires and any related hotspots. Due to the quick response from firefighting crews, several structures were saved from the brush fire. The home of the retired engineer and his two sheds were deemed total losses.
No other injuries were reported from the fires.
The Florida Department of Agriculture is now investigating the scene.