![RockledgeFire7](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4748397532_03e7358392_b.jpg)
A resident hoses down the side of his house in the Chelsea Park subdivision, where burning embers from a wildfire in a nearby bird sanctuary threatened to ignite the home.
Last Tuesday, the day of my return from the first of three consecutive long weekends, I was called to work by an editor who said Rockledge was ablaze. Actually, it was a simple wildfire near a subdivision in the city, a subdivision where a friend of mine happens to live. So there was an added concern. When I got there, though, I discovered that the flames were far from her home but very near about 20 along a few streets in the community. I covered it for the newspaper through words and photographs, more of which can be viewed here.
![RockledgeFire2](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4747755429_be51274e5b_b.jpg)
A teenager carries her most prized possessions - a surfboard and a skateboard - from her home after she was ordered to evacuate.
![RockledgeFire1](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4101/4747755281_699c594769_b.jpg)
A county firefighter assessed the blaze from atop a special truck used in brush fires.
![RockledgeFire8](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4123/4747755617_931a5c427d.jpg)
The firefighters had considerably more hosepower.
![RockledgeFire6](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4747755549_5f02084662_b.jpg)
The fire and the homes were separated by a small canal, providing a natural barrier against the blaze. Still, residents used their garden hoses to douse small flames on the other side.
![RockledgeFire3](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4748397402_4ec57d6431_b.jpg)
A woman, her daughter and some other local children gather closely while they look at flames shooting above their homes.
![RockledgeFire5](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4747755335_53e85a5cd9_b.jpg)
A father comforts his frightened 8-year-old.
![RockledgeFire4](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4137/4748397492_19da367bda_b.jpg)
All of these neighbors were quite concerned, but the firefighters stopped the flames.
![RockledgeFire9](http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4118/4748397686_1b65864cfb_b.jpg)
Finally, when the wildfire was contained, everyone could take a break.
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