Latest news with #Drone9
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
State investigating after barn fire kills 21 horses
The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives is investigating after a barn fire killed 21 horses Tuesday morning. Marion County Fire Chief James Banta says they got the call just before 4 a.m. of a barn on fire in the 6000 block of NW 118th Street in Reddick. 'The whole barn is on fire. I don't know how it can be. I just checked it an hour ago, and it was fine,' said a security guard to 911 dispatch Tuesday morning. Crews arrived within 15 minutes and found a 10,000-foot barn fully engulfed in flames. The roof had already completely collapsed by the time crews arrived. All 21 horses inside the structure died, the chief says. 'It's troubling for our community, and we're very sad. And our hearts and prayers go out to the owners of the horses, because this community loves our horses, and it's horse country,' Banta said. Skywitness and Drone 9 flew over the property, where only the foundation and some walls of the barn remain. The property is owned by the Roberts Family, a well-known name in Marion County. The family created the World Equestrian Center in Ocala and are the owners of the freight shipping empire R&L Carriers. The family has owned World Champion Show horses but no word on if those horses were killed in the fire. Chief Banta says this is a huge loss for not only the family but the community,y as Marion County is the heart of horse country. Tuesday, Marion County Fire Marshall and the state's Bureau of Fire, Arson and Explosives searched the scene and worked to determine what caused the fire. 'We'll look at everything, so we'll dig into the entire scene and try to recreate what happened and try and get to the bottom of it to hopefully prevent anything like this from happening again,' said Chief Banta. The state was called in because of the monetary loss of the fire between the building and the nearly two dozen horses. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘I never experienced something like this': Tornado cleanup underway in Seminole County
Crews will be back out across Seminole County on Tuesday to assess damage after a powerful EF2 tornado touched down in parts of Lake Mary and Longwood on Monday. The winds were strong enough to rip through houses, brick walls, and fences. 'I lived through many hurricanes ... I never experienced something like this,' one resident of the Whispering Winds subdivision in Longwood told Eyewitness News. The winds peaked at 115 miles per hour, and the few minutes that the system traveled on or near the ground was enough to destroy a home near Markham Woods Road. 'It was wham, bam!, Longwood resident Dan Hunnel said. 'It hit up there and it bounced, and it hit over here and bounced, and hit here and bounced, and moved on down the road,' Hunnel motioned to explain the twister's path. From above, Drone 9 showed the devastating images of the neighborhood. Scattered about the ground were Christmas decorations, furniture, a checkbook and other personal items like pictures. 'My daughter lives here, her home was destroyed. She's devastated,' a neighbor in tears told Channel 9′s Geovany Dias. According to the National Weather Service, tornadoes in general are not uncommon in Central Florida. However, a tornado this strong was unusual. 'An EF2 this time of year is considered a rare Florida tornado. In total, generally speaking, 90% of all tornadoes that the State of Florida sees are EF 0 or EF1 tornadoes which are still potentially damaging,' National Weather Service meteorologist William Ulrich said. 'To see winds of up to 115 miles per hour or greater is a rare phenomenon for us in Central Florida,' he added. The Seminole County Emergency Management team has been fanning out across the area since the storm hit, ensuring the community has the resources it needs to rebuild. Officials are also reminding residents about the value of potentially life-saving tools. 'That's the importance of quick alerts, having a weather radio, having some type of system where you can get a weather warning, and going into that safe location, Emergency Manager Alan Harris said. To activate your alert service from Seminole County, go to or simply text SEMINOLE to 888-777. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Yahoo
House fire sparks investigation in Palm Bay
Fire and police officials are investigating an overnight house fire in Palm Bay. Firefighters responded to the home along Balue Lane SE just before midnight on Monday. Channel 9 was in the neighborhood Tuesday morning and saw officers still on scene. Patrol cars blocked traffic access to the street where fire broke out, but Drone 9 captured a view of the damaged home. Eyewitness News reached out to Palm Bay Fire Rescue for more details about the incident, including whether anyone was hurt. The agency said it was not yet ready to release information about the fire. Stay with and watch Eyewitness News for updates on this developing story. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Yahoo
‘This plane is unrecognizable': pilot killed in single plane crash in Flagler County
Investigators with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office spent several hours, going through the night, in a wooded area near State Road 11 Saturday morning. That was the final destination where authorities say they found what was left of the small plane. 'It was the worst condition that you could imagine to try to find an aircraft,' said Sheriff Rick Staly from Flagler County. The more than 12 hours-search ended with a tragedy – the plane's pilot was killed in the crash. Read: Walmart, Sam's Club, Kroger, Aldi put some limits on egg purchases 'Last night, about 8 p.m., the Sheriff's office received a call about a missing aircraft. The last known location on the radar was in this general area of Lake Disston. Channel 9 obtained radar video showing the moment the aircraft seems to disappear while flying 2,000 feet up in the sky. The plane had taken off around 6 p.m. from Sebastian Airport and was headed to the Palatka airport when it lost contact with the base near DeLand. Read: Operation Forced Labor: Central Florida law enforcement arrest 29, save 4 human trafficking victim Later, just past midnight, the aircraft was found in Bunnell. The Drone 9 video above shows the heavy wood, the farm-like spot where investigators were focused. According to the Flagler County Sheriff's Office, the Cessna Caravan is registered under the company Eagle Air Transport Inc., based in Chicago. The ten-seater plane is used for skydiving. 'Deputies went there, and basically, this plane is unrecognizable from the impact into the ground,' the Sheriff said. According to the company, the pilot was the only person onboard the aircraft when the malfunction was reported. Read: A historical marker is unveiled to commemorate the site of the original Jones High School In a statement sent to Channel 9, Eagle Air Transport said: 'We became aware around 8 p.m. last night of an incident involving one of our aircraft. Around 6 p.m., an experienced pilot departed Sebastian, FL, en route to Palatka. The aircraft did not make it to its destination for unknown reasons. We have little information beyond this and are working with local and federal authorities on the ongoing investigation.' The FAA sent the following statement: 'A Cessna 208 crashed in a field in southern Flagler County, Florida, around 1:00 a.m. local time on Saturday, February 15. Only the pilot was on board. The FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide any updates.' Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
