There are more than 200 fires burning in Florida across 43,000 acres, emergency management officials said. So far, no one has been hurt or killed, but in the Panhandle five homes have been destroyed and 13 damaged.
Statewide Burn Ban
Gov. Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency last week. Tuesday, the Florida Emergency Operations Center was activated to deal with the fire threat. Enacting a statewide burn ban to try and prevent additional fires was among the agency’s first actions.
“The important message is to be careful; be careful with fire,” Crist said. “Make sure that if you have cigarette butts that you dispose of them responsibly. Firecrackers, you shouldn't be using them. Barbecues, you shouldn't be doing them. Be careful, be careful, be careful.”
Grant-Valkaria Fire
Homeowners in south Brevard County will be keeping an eye on a brush fire that burned dangerously close to houses Tuesday.
The flames tore through about 50 acres along Berry Road in Grant-Valkaria, Fla. Firefighters lit small fires along the road to contain it. They said if it had crossed the street, dozens of homes could have been burned.
"You hear about them all the time but it's never close to your house. You don't worry as much. But when it's close to home it hits home. It makes you realize you could lose everything,” said Wendy Blain of Grant-Valkaria.
By early evening, firefighters had the flames contained. No homes were damaged.
Flagler Co. Fire
Firefighters near the Flalger-Volusia county line are putting water on hot spots smoldering underground.
The Flagler County fire has now burned around 7,000 acres after igniting a week ago. Division of Forestry workers said there are no active flames left within the fire lines.
But homeowners are still cautious. Some took Monday and Tuesday off work in case an evacuation order was called.
"Everything is insured, but you just got to be there able to turn sprinklers on and give it a shot before you're sent to evacuate,” homeowner Chris Boice said.
Helicopters are still dumping thousands of gallons of water on the hot spots in an effort to keep the fire from reigniting.
Wekiva River Fire
Firefighters in Lake County spent Tuesday putting out hot spots from a brush fire near the Wekiva River.
The fire broke out Monday, charring 1,000 acres and prompting evacuations. Tuesday, firefighters dealt with some flare-ups, but were able to knock them down.