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Prescribed burn blamed for wildfire

Posted at 4:12 AM, Jun 28, 2018
and last updated 2018-06-28 00:15:37-04

EASTPOINT, Fla. (WTXL) - Jose Pineda was with his family at the store when he got the call from a family member saying his house was on fire. The next few minutes were chaotic, but there was only one thing he could think about.

"I didn't care about nothing but my dad," he said of the Limerock Fire in Franklin County. "I just wanted him to answer his phone and tell me he's okay. I just care about my family and that's it. That's all that matters."

People in Eastpoint Florida are still reeling after flames tore through their neighborhood this week.

The fire destroyed 36 homes and burned more than 800 acres.

State officials say the fire got out of control after a prescribed burn run by a company hired by the state.

The prescribed fire program is now suspended statewide as investigators look into exactly what happened here.

Many in Franklin County are understandably angry, but Jose says right now he and his family are just focused on cleaning up what's left behind.

"We've been sitting and thinking about what could've happened if we were all in the trailer," he said. "We haven't been thinking about who's fault it is or who did this. Right now, we're just looking for some sentimental stuff that my dad gave to me when I was three years old. I'm still looking for it, if I can find it. I had his high school diploma too when he was 17. Now he's 64 years old. But it's all gone."