As the rest of the town slept the Melbourne Beach Vol. Fire Dept. at 12.30AM responded to a large fence fire on First Ave, caused by a FPL power line in the trees, MBFD requested the grid be shut down as a safety precaution before putting water on the fire.

Some observers may wonder why this firefighter is not actively extinguishing the fire despite the visible flames and available water supply and backup. His decision is informed by his volunteer training, which emphasizes awareness of potential hazards such as concealed power lines among the trees. Water was deliberately withheld from this section of the fence line until Florida Power and Light deactivated the electrical grid. This approach highlights that effective training—rooted in real-life experience rather than theoretical instruction—is essential for safety.