@USFS

A weekend off-roading excursion turned into a 20-acre wildfire in the Ocala National Forest after a vehicle’s exhaust system ignited dry grass. U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and Lake County Fire Rescue firefighting crews responded to the “Grassy Pond 3 Fire” located off Paisley Road on Saturday, April 11. According to the USFS, the fire was caused by a 4×4 vehicle that was driven off a designated trail and into a patch of soft ground. The vehicle became stuck, and despite recent rainfall in the area, the surrounding tall grass had dried enough to be ignited by the heat of the vehicle’s exhaust system. The operators and bystanders were unable to free the vehicle, which was declared a total loss. …On Sunday, the U.S. Forest Service issued a stern reminder to visitors that driving off designated trails and surfaces is both unwise and illegal on forest land.