WINTER HAVEN, Fla — As we’ve seen in national news, grassfires have the ability to quickly engulf an entire city, so when a Winter Haven couple’s tractor caught fire in their backyard, they did not take it lightly.

“All I could think of was my neighbors and California with all those fires, and I just got scared,” explained homeowner, Neilda Rivera, who told Spectrum Bay News 9 that she was working from home that day.

Rivera said she initially came outside to check on the Spectrum cable technician that was working outside of their home.

“I looked over his shoulder and that’s when we both saw the flames,” said Rivera. “I think my husband was in shock because he was standing there looking at the flames as we were running toward him.”  

Rivera’s husband, Adalberto, said that the grass was dry and the muffler shield to his tractor was pretty much gone.

“I had this tractor for seven years but I didn’t have a fire extinguisher close enough to save it,” he explained.

However, the Rivera’s credit the Spectrum technician, Neftali Felicianl, for helping to get control of the fire.

“Because of where we live we don’t have a fire hydrant, so he and I were running back and forth with the hoses trying to put out the flames,” explained Mrs. Rivera. “We eventually had to call the fire department but that guy saved us.”

Spectrum Bay News 9 spoke with the technician who said it’s what he hopes everyone would have done.

“They remind me of my parents and they looked like they needed help,” said Felicianl. “I think if we’re here to help, why wouldn’t we? As a team for Spectrum I think we all try to help out as much as we can throughout the neighborhood.”

The Winter Haven Police Department was on the scene within 5 minutes, followed shortly after by the fire department. After the flames were completely extinguished the Spectrum tech completed his installation on the home and left with folks now calling him a local hero.