An initial report of an explosion in Lake Wales early New Year’s Eve morning generated more questions than answers.
On 12/31/24 at 3:33 a.m., Polk County Fire Rescue crews were dispatched to an unknown situation reported near the intersection of Hwy 60 E/Hwy 630 E in Lake Wales, FL. It was initially reported as an explosion.
Katelyn Hoverkamp, Public Information Officer at Polk County Fire Rescue, offered the following account of events:
“On 12/31/24 at 3:43 a.m., PCFR crews arrived at the entrance of River Ranch and were advised that a fire located on an old abandoned camp property broke out but was extinguished by River Ranch Fire Suppression members prior to PCFR’s arrival.
“While on scene, PCFR crews confirmed the fire was extinguished and determined that there were no injuries reported and no patients transported. Due to the fire being extinguished prior to our arrival, the cause of the fire is unknown.”
