Iconic Florida Landmark Damaged In Fire

Shortly after the start of 2022, vandals caused damage to one of Florida’s most famous sights.

Around 3:30 a.m. Saturday morning, according to webcam images, two men lit a Christmas tree on fire up against the Southernmost Point buoy. Police are looking for the suspects.

According to a Facebook post by the Key West Police Department, the fire caused “extensive damage.” Key West Fire Department put the flames out. The buoy marks the “southernmost” point in the continental United States, roughly 90 miles from Cuba. The concrete buoy was built in 1983. You can see it on a live webcam here.
[Source: NY Post]

• Images of the fire and damage

  Vandals set fire to Key West's iconic Southernmost Point landmark https://t.co/QOoLVCkW5w pic.twitter.com/I3OKHdB0GO

  — New York Post (@nypost) January 2, 2022

• Video of the vandals in the act

• Here's an enlarged image giving a better view of the vandals.

  Enlarged photo: #KeyWest #southernmostpoint pic.twitter.com/dfSh7NxsbC

  — Jay Bird (@JayLynn66873225) January 2, 2022

• You can see in the video below that after :10 the culprits seem proud of their criminal mischief.

  LANDMARK DESTROYED: Police in Florida’s Key West say two suspects caused “extensive damage” to the landmark Southernmost Point buoy when they set fire to a Christmas tree right next to it in the early hours of New Years Day. pic.twitter.com/U5hOwIwy89

  — CBS News (@CBSNews) January 2, 2022