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Burned books, lighter found at the source of Nassau County wildfire

Two homes were destroyed & several structures damaged after a fire spread from a man burning these books.

Action News Jax found out where the Bryceville wildfire that burned nearly 700 acres started and neighbors told us more about the man responsible for the fire.

A man told us his father helped the man responsible for the fire helped him and his wife evacuate Wednesday night and said the man was crying and feels extremely bad.

"I heard an explosion and I heard two little Chihuahuas barking,” neighbor, Kimberly Davison said.

That’s what Davison said she heard before she came outside and saw fire engines race past her to get to the fire that started in her neighbor’s yard.

"It was right in the woods, right on the edge," Davison said.

Cellphone video Davison gave Action News Jax showed bulldozers working to create a fire line in the woods.

"They had a good control on it until the winds shifted and that's when the problems occurred," neighbor Peter Potter said.

Video from Sky Action News Jax showed how quickly the fire jumped and rapidly spread to more than 600 acres. It destroyed two homes and damaged several other structures.

"It was like Armageddon; I don't know how to explain it, it was scary," Davison said.

The fire was caused by a man illegally burning paperback books in his backyard.

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"On a windy day, you shouldn't burn anything," Potter said.

Potter said the man just moved to this area.

"I hope nobody holds it against him, it wasn't a fault, it was an accident, an unfortunate accident," Potter said.

Action News Jax found a lighter laying near the fire pit where several burned books are still piled. The man’s backyard is nothing but charred grass.

"I don't think he realized it, he's elderly and I know he didn't mean to, not malicious. It's sad," Potter said.

The man’s home had no apparent damage.