Florida Fireman Spots Fire On Day Off, Grabs Garden Hose

WINTER HAVEN, FL — Veteran Florida firefighter Matthew McCard was enjoying his day off when he spotted smoke Friday and jumped into action with the only firefighting tool he could find, a garden hose.

The incident happened around 12:17 p.m. in the 100 block of Lake Howard Drive NW, according to Jamie Brown of the Winter Haven Fire Department in central Florida.

Fire Chief Brian Bradway of the nearby Auburndale Fire Department told Patch that he heard the call come in and remembered that McCard lived in the area.

"I picked up the phone and I called Matt," the chief explained. "He picks up the phone and says 'hey, I'm right here. It's not my house. It's two houses down.' He said 'I'm' spraying a garden hose on it right now.' He said 'nobody's here yet. I'm trying to keep it from going in the house.' I'm like 'alright, man. Do your thing and call me later.'"

The chief said his department couldn't be prouder of McCard, who joined the agency in 2005. "He saw it and ran down there and knocked on the door," the chief said. "I guess the guy hadn't realized his garage was on fire yet. He got him out of the house, closed the door from the house to the garage to keep it from spreading in the house, and then just grabbed whatever he could, being a garden hose."

Brown said the fire caused extensive damage to the garage, but would have been much worse if not for the 37-year-old McCard.

"Members from the Winter Haven Fire Department arrived on scene and immediately started tackling the fire and preserving the home, which was only separated by a breezeway between the structures," she explained.

No one was injured in the blaze and the family who lives on the property will not have to leave their home.

"The quick response helped mitigate damage to the home," Brown added. "Only minor exterior smoke damage occurred to the breezeway and a wall on the exterior of the home."

No word if McCard will get another day off.