Florida Brush Fire Threatens Homes
Firefighters scrambled to control a 2,000-acre brush fire that continued to burn Sunday across a dry, rural region of central Florida.
At least one house was damaged and several residents fled fire-threatened homes, though no injuries were reported.
Fire officials said the blaze grew from 500 acres Sunday morning to 2,000 acres by evening. They had hoped to have it under control by this afternoon.
The fire started Saturday about 40 miles southwest of Orlando, Fla. About three dozen firefighters battled the blaze Sunday and a helicopter dropped water on the flames, said Division of Forestry spokeswoman Chris Kintner.
A southwesterly wind had edged the fire away from Haines City toward an uninhabited, swampy area. But if the wind shifts, “that’s when we’re going to have problems,” Kintner said.
The fire was started by an all-terrain vehicle, possibly from sparks or hot exhaust, said Polk County Emergency Management Director David Cash. No charges are expected to be filed.
Cash said the county has been especially dry during the last month.
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