Man arrested for Friday fire on Big Pine Key

A 49-year-old homeless man was arrested Friday night for starting a fire in a shopping cart that quickly became an uncontrolled brush fire.

Wynn Edgar Messenger was arrested as part of a joint investigation among the Sheriff’s Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission in which the FWC was the lead agency. Messenger was charged with malicious land burning and failure to control or report a dangerous fire.

The fire caused some evacuations in the area near 24th Lane and Wilder Road. The fire burned about a half-acre of land. Monroe County Fire Rescue firefighters were still battling hot spots after 9 p.m.

Messenger admitted to starting the fire in the woods where he lives. He stated he started the fire in a shopping cart.

Messenger’s arrest is not related to the large fire on Big Pine Key last month that destroyed a house and another structure.

Messenger was taken to jail.

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