Featured Article: Winter Haven Fire

On Tuesday morning, January 20, 2026, a fire broke out at the Jarrett-Gordon Ford car dealership in Winter Haven and shut down U.S. 17. ll northbound lanes and one southbound lane have reopened by 3:30pm. 

 "There were multiple hazards on scene to include 2,000 gallons of oil and multiple different fuel sources," the Winter Haven Fire Department wrote.

Around 10:40 am crews from the Winter Haven Fire Department and Polk County Fire Rescue responded to a fire that started in the dealership's service bay building on Lake Alfred Road (U.S. 17). 

Lake Alfred firefighters provided additional crews to help contain the fire to the service bays, as the fire had spread to 20 vehicles and the car dealerships service bay.