[BC] Florida transmitter site damaged

[Blaine Thompson]

http://www.pnj.com/article/20120627/NEWS01/306270040/Blaze-Milton-90-percent-contained

Blaze in Milton 90 percent contained
Radio station transmitter damaged
12:43 AM, Jun. 28, 2012
   
Written by Rhema Thompson

An equipment malfunction is being blamed for a brush fire near Avalon Boulevard in Milton that scorched 209 acres Tuesday .

On Wednesday, Florida Forest Service spokesman Joe Zwierzchowski said the fire was 90 percent contained.

The wildfire was fanned by winds reaching 20 miles an hour helping it to spread quickly, according to a news release from the Florida Forest Service.

"The fact that this fire came just a few weeks after the torrential rains we had should serve as a warning for residents in our area that the threat of wildfire in Florida and especially this region right now is very, very real," Zwierzchowski said.

Zwierzchowski said crews were able to keep the fire under control overnight because of low winds and high humidity.

He said crews were on the scene reinforcing lines and mopping up.

That's good news for Matt Hartenstein, 27, who was told yesterday he had to evacuate his Shady Bayou home.

Hartenstein said he rushed home from work to protect his dog.

"Ain't nothing I can do about the fire, but it made for an interesting afternoon," he said Wendesday.

Hartenstein's dog was fine, and so was his Shady Bayou home, along with the other homes on his road.

The brush fire did severely damaged the transmitter site of radio station 1330 AM WEBY, general manager Mike Bates said in a news release.

The transmitter site lost power Tuesday afternoon and the station switched to a backup transmitter site operating at a reduced power level. The studios are eight miles from the transmitter site and were not affected, the release said.

WEBY will continue its regular programming, broadcasting at reduced power from its backup site.

Bates could not estimate repair costs. He expects to be operating from the site with a temporary fix in seven to 10 days, but the full restoration could take months. WEBY can also be heard at www.1330weby.com.