Two Escambia County Fires Add Red Bulbs To Fire Safety Wreath
January 1, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue has placed red bulbs numbers 13 and 14 on the wreath during “Keep the Wreath Green” following structure fires off Ely Road and Crabtree Church Road.
On Thursday, Dec. 26 at approximately 3:40 p.m., Escambia County Fire Rescue units including a hazmat team responded to a commercial structure fire with hazardous materials at Pall Membrane Technologies, located on the 8700 block of Ely Road. Upon arrival, crews found a working fire in a storage building containing nitrocellulose in isopropyl alcohol. Since foam and dry chemical agents would have caused an adverse reaction with the materials involved and therefore could not be used, crews established a water supply using two fire hydrants and boosted water pressure from ECUA. The fire was extinguished at approximately 5 p.m. Fortunately, the facility was evacuated and no injuries were reported. The shed and materials were destroyed. The Florida Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives is investigating the incident.
At 1:46 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 29, Escambia County Fire Rescue units from Cantonment, Molino, Beula and McDavid responded to a residential structure fire at the 3200 block of Crabtree Church Road. Smoke was showing upon arrival at the two-story home with all occupants and pets outside. A fire was discovered in the truss loft between the first and second floors. ECFR applied water to the flames and brought the situation under control by 2:16 a.m. However, the occupants have been displaced due to the damages. There were no injuries or fatalities. ECFR determined a lightning strike caused the fire.
The “Keep the Wreath Green” fire safety campaign is a collaborative initiative with the City of Pensacola to promote fire safety during the month of December. During the month-long campaign. Five-foot wreaths are on display at locations that included 21 county fire stations. Each time firefighters respond to a residential or commercial structure fire with damage, a green light bulb will be replaced with a red one to remind citizens of the dangers posed by fires in residential and commercial buildings.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Cynthia Guthrie Smith
January 1, 2025
Cynthia Guthrie Smith passed away peacefully on December 27, 2025, from complications of pneumonia. Sinde or Momma Rizzo, as she is known to all, was known for her sass, wit, kindness, grace, compassion, and love for God, family, and friends.
Sinde was born on July 21,1954, in Florala, Alabama to Charles Warren and Alice Marie Guthrie. The family, along with her brother David, later relocated to Lynn Haven, Florida where Sinde’s youngest siblings, Ken and Cathi, made their arrival over the next several years. Sinde went on to meet the love of her life, David, in Norfolk, Virginia in 1974. These two fell in love immediately and never looked back. Their love was the epitome of unwavering. Until her last breath, David was beside his “brown eyed girl” letting her know that the two would be reunited one day. David served in the U.S. Navy and thus, Sinde and David moved various places over the years. In July of 1975, Sinde and David welcomed their first daughter, Jessica in Panama City, FL. In September of 1977, in Pensacola, FL they welcomed their second daughter, Jacquelyn. Sinde spent the rest of her life being the best mother imaginable to her daughters. She was the room mom, the team mom, at every function, and even as her daughters grew, she was always there for them in every capacity.
In October of 1997, Sinde got the title she was made for, Nana, when Brianna was born. Sinde spent her days helping to be the best role model she could be for her. Many years later in November of 2005, she became a Nana again to Meredith. Always present and always showing them the way to be the best versions of themselves, her spirit will live on in her “baby” girls as she always called them.
Over the years, Sinde made countless friendships with various other U.S. Navy wives in many different cities where they were stationed. In 1989, Sinde and David and their girls moved to Milton, Florida to their forever home. During this time, Sinde became a Manager of the Deli at Winn Dixie for 30 years where she met numerous friends, many of whom became as close as family. After retirement from Winn Dixie, Sinde decided to work part time at Crain Supply with her daughter and her husband where she took so much pride and love in her job.
Sinde is preceded in death by her father, Charles; mother, Marie; great grandparents, Wilburn and Fannie Fleming; and niece, Nikki Smith.
She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, David; her daughters, Jessica Smith and Jacquelyn (Brian) Johnston; granddaughters, Brianna Smith and Meredith Johnston; step-grandsons, Andrew (Kayli) Johnston, Tyler Johnston, and Hunter Johnston; brothers, David (Sandra) Guthrie and Ken Guthrie; sister, Cathi (Kelly) Guthrie; brother-in-law, Terry Smith; one step great granddaughter; two step great grandsons; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The pallbearers will be David Smith, Brian Johnston, Becky Guthrie, Myles Guthrie, Andrew Johnston, Hunter Johnston, and Preston Moore.
A funeral service will be held on Monday, January 5, 2026, at Lewis Funeral Home Milton Chapel, 6405 Highway 90 W, Milton Florida 32570, with visitation from 10:30-11:00 a.m. and service at 11:00 a.m. Interment will be at Elizabeth Chapel in Chumuckla, Florida.
In lieu of flowers the family kindly request that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Hospital – a charity near and dear to Sinde’s heart.