Firefighters rescue elderly woman from New Smyrna Beach fire

Firefighters in Volusia County rescued a nearly 90-year-old woman from a brush fire near her home in New Smyrna Beach. The fire, which has burned 336 acres, was threatening around 15 houses in the area. Isabel Bond, who will celebrate her 90th birthday in December, didn't realize how close the fire was. She saw smoke but thought it might not reach her home. “I was amazed to see it that close,” she said. She expressed gratitude for the firefighters and her neighbor, who helped her escape the dangerous situation. Firefighters worked from both the ground and air to control the flames. Agencies involved included Edgewater, New Smyrna Beach, and the Florida Division of Forestry. Neighbors also joined in, spraying water from their rooftops to protect their properties. Lynda Alder, a local resident, praised the community spirit, saying, “Neighbors working together to try and help keep a catastrophe from happening.”