(Seminole County, Fla.) – At 12:27 p.m. on July 31, 2025, more than a dozen units from the Seminole County Fire Department (SCFD) responded to a residential fire on Orange Avenue in the City of Winter Springs. The first 911 call was placed by City of Winter Springs Parks & Recreation employees, who quickly assessed the situation, called out for any occupants, and alerted crews that the home was fully engulfed in flames. They also opened the property’s gates to allow fire trucks quick access and cleared a safe path for first responders.

In addition, the employees were able to open a back porch door, enabling two dogs—“Chacha” and “Snowball”—to escape the burning home. Unfortunately, Chacha sustained severe burns, but is on the mend and another dog, “Rue,” tragically perished in the fire. No human occupants were inside the home at the time.For their swift action and assistance to firefighters and residents, the Seminole County Fire Department presented “Community Hero Awards” to the following City of Winter Springs Parks & Recreation employees:

-Mike Krist, Parks Manager

-Kendrick Miller, Parks Foreman 

-Diubel Machin Ramos, Park & Rec Mechanic

-Ryan Kelly, Parks Maintenance Worker

-Nick Richards, Parks Maintenance Worker

-Trevor Adolphe, Parks Maintenance Worker

-Jared Persons, Maintenance Worker

“Days like today are especially meaningful because our Fire Department get to express thanks to those who help make our job easier,” said Fire Chief Matt Kinley. “And in this case, it was a great example of just that – with City employees helping County employees to serve citizens in need.”

“We are so thankful to all the first responders, the City of Winter Springs employees who helped and the outpouring of the community,” said the homeowners. “We thought we might leave and go somewhere else, but because of the great community here we are going to rebuild – and everyone is invited back when we do so.”