CENTRAL FLORIDA -- Fire crews are battling four separate brush fires in Brevard and Volusia counties that prompted evacuations and closed roads Sunday.
I-95 May Be Shut Down All Night
Smoke from a 1,900-acre brush fire burning along both sides of Interstate 95 in Malabar closed the road Sunday. Officials said the road may be shut down all night.
The fire broke out Sunday and quickly spread, prompting crews to shut down the interstate in both directions between U.S. 192 and the Indian River County line.
Troopers said visibility in the area was knocked down to almost nothing.
"As it’s crossing over the interstate, there's less than 10 feet visibility, and I went through about 10 times and you can't see more than 10 feet in front of you," said a trooper.
Making matters worse, embers from the fire even ignited stretches of grass in the median of the highway.
A section of U.S. 1 near Malabar Road is also closed because of the smoke.
Crews have been rushing to various hot spots to try and keep any nearby homes from burning.
Some in the area though have had to take matters in their own hands using sprinklers to wet down their roofs as they watched the flames spread.
Palm Bay Fires Described As 'Suspicious'
One evacuation order issued for Palm Bay has been lifted.
The evacuation was for people living on streets east of St. Andre Boulevard because a series of fires were threatening homes for a while.
Police say a series of fires in the city Sunday appear to be suspicious.
Four fires broke out within just a few minutes of each other.
The first broke out near Tudor Road SW.
In that case, three homes were threatened but crews were able to get it out quickly.
A short time later, a passerby noticed flames in the woods near Bayside High School. That fire was also quickly extinguished.
A half an hour later, firefighters responded to another fire between two homes on Delray Street NE.
A brush fire was also spotted near Weslaco Street SE.
In this case, a caller stated he saw a dark-colored car in the area in which a driver threw something out of the car and then drove off. The fire started immediately after that.
If you know anything about any of these suspicious fires, call CrimeLine at (800) 423-TIPS or the Palm Bay Police Department.
100 Homes Evacuated In Cocoa
A major brush fire along State Road 524 in Cocoa is still out of control and threatening homes.
On Sunday afternoon, it grew to more than 250 acres.
The fire is in two parts -- one near S.R. 524 and the other by Satellite Boulevard in Cocoa.
Two businesses at the intersection of Cox Road and 524 may have been damaged.
We've confirmed at least one structure will be salvaged. There is no word on the other.
The day's strong winds pushed the fire along. Firefighters hope less wind and cooler temperatures Sunday night will slow it down.
More than 100 families in the area of Cox, Friday and Rayburn roads were ordered to evacuate because of the fire.
State Road 524 remains closed between Cox and Friday roads.
Meanwhile, people living in the evacuated areas said they had to pack up and leave fast.
Many of the evacuees are in the Satellite Boulevard area and the neighborhood around S.R. 524.
A lot of the homes are on small dirt roads that are completely engulfed in fire. Therefore, no one could drive in or out.
Residents said they didn't have time to get anything and they don't know what's happening at home.
"It jumped the road. The woods caught fire. It was red, high. We were in pajamas, got in the car, and left. We didn't have time to do nothing else," said Pat Arnold, one evacuee.
The evacuees are being helped by the Red Cross.
Brush Fire Shuts Down LPGA Boulevard
Firefighters say 500 acres have burned in a fire that prompted evacuations in Daytona Beach.
The fire broke out in the Bayberry Lakes Subdivision off LPGA Boulevard but quickly spread.
A mandatory evacuation remains in place for about 500 homes in the LPGA International neighborhood.
A voluntary evacuation was put in place for about 200 homes in the Bayberry Colony. It was lifted after 11 p.m. Sunday.
The status of the evacuation order for LPGA International will be evaluated after 9 a.m. Monday.
The fire did burn across LPGA Boulevard, shutting that road down between Williamson Boulevard and International Speedway Boulevard (U.S. 92).
Crews said their goal overnight will be to keep the fire in check.
“We certainly hope so. Until just a minute ago, it seemed wind was letting up but now it's kicking up pretty hard again, and we typically count on humidity rising at night, which helps dampen the fine fuels, reduces the chances of those burning embers starting a new fire,” said Timber Weller from the Division of Forestry.
“Well we change tactics during the day to night. We try not to put our crews actively engage in the fire unless we have to. So we're looking to protect exposures and maintain perimeters through the night, and luckily the fire has laid down for us where we do have perimeters that are defendable right now,” said Asst. Chief Paul Neely from Daytona Beach Fire Rescue.
Firefighters say no homes have been damaged or destroyed. However, the fire is not contained.
The Red Cross has opened a shelter at the Hampton Inn on West International Speedway Boulevard. A hotline is also in place for the city of Daytona Beach. It is (386) 671-5347 and will be active throughout the night.
Orange County Fire Flares Up
In Orange County, crews rushed back to the scene of a brush fire that broke out earlier in the week after it flared up again Sunday afternoon.
A passerby called after seeing smoke in the area of Hiawassee Road and the Turnpike.
The fire charred about 10 acres Thursday.
The flare-up was quickly knocked down and no homes are threatened at this time.
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