MALABAR, Fla. -- Hundreds of families were evacuated from their homes and Interstate 95 and other major roads were closed Sunday night as brush fires burned along Florida's east coast. Wind-whipped fires burning near I-95 near neighborhoods in Malabar threatened several homes and livestock Sunday night. In another part of the county, a fire forced residents out of about 100 to 200 homes near Cocoa, said Brevard County Fire and Rescue spokesman Orlando Dominguez.
That fire was larger than 100 acres, Dominguez said. A portion of I-95 in Brevard County was shut down because of heavy smoke from a blaze near Malabar.
Homes Evacuated In Daytona Beach
About 400 Volusia County homes near Daytona Beach were under a mandatory evacuation order Sunday and about 200 homes were under a voluntary evacuation advisory, authorities said. The Volusia County brush fire burned about 500 to 600 acres and also led to road closures, Florida Division of Forestry spokesman Timber Weller said. Weller said he was not sure how many residents of the Bayberry Lakes subdivision, along LPGA Boulevard, were forced to leave their homes. He said 20-mph winds and dry conditions made the fire especially challenging for crews. "Control is extremely difficult and there's basically several small subdivisions in the area and fires burning, in some cases, very close to the homes," Weller said. An American Red Cross shelter was set up at a Daytona Beach hotel for Volusia County evacuees and the city has established a hot line, according to a news release. About 200 animals housed at the Halifax Humane Society were also evacuated.
Wind-Driven Fire Forces Evacuations In St. Johns County
A 50-acre fire in St. Johns County also forced people from their homes along state Road 207. Firefighters in Flagler County, Jacksonville and East Palatka are helping St. Johns County try to keep the wind from spreading the flames beyond fire lines. No homes were lost by Sunday night. "I'm hoping that it's going to go past us, but it's still scary," said Mary Melvin, one of a handful of families evacuated. "The way the winds blowing, it could blow it away from us, it could take it to us. I wish it would just stop." The National Weather Service said the winds are not expected to die down until Tuesday or Wednesday and has issued a red flag warning for much of central and north Florida for Monday. A second fire in St. Johns County on Sunday burned 40 or 50 acres before it was contained. Officials said that fire, in the Vermont Heights area, may have been intentionally set by three juveniles who were seen playing with a lighter.
Shottess said
03:15 05/12 2008
Oh noooo thats so sad...and i have nuff friends up dere in Palm Bay and Daytona enuh
Wind-whipped fires burning near I-95 near neighborhoods in Malabar threatened several homes and livestock Sunday night.
In another part of the county, a fire forced residents out of about 100 to 200 homes near Cocoa, said Brevard County Fire and Rescue spokesman Orlando Dominguez.
That fire was larger than 100 acres, Dominguez said.
A portion of I-95 in Brevard County was shut down because of heavy smoke from a blaze near Malabar.
Homes Evacuated In Daytona Beach
About 400 Volusia County homes near Daytona Beach were under a mandatory evacuation order Sunday and about 200 homes were under a voluntary evacuation advisory, authorities said.The Volusia County brush fire burned about 500 to 600 acres and also led to road closures, Florida Division of Forestry spokesman Timber Weller said.
Weller said he was not sure how many residents of the Bayberry Lakes subdivision, along LPGA Boulevard, were forced to leave their homes. He said 20-mph winds and dry conditions made the fire especially challenging for crews.
"Control is extremely difficult and there's basically several small subdivisions in the area and fires burning, in some cases, very close to the homes," Weller said.
An American Red Cross shelter was set up at a Daytona Beach hotel for Volusia County evacuees and the city has established a hot line, according to a news release.
About 200 animals housed at the Halifax Humane Society were also evacuated.
Wind-Driven Fire Forces Evacuations In St. Johns County
A 50-acre fire in St. Johns County also forced people from their homes along state Road 207.Firefighters in Flagler County, Jacksonville and East Palatka are helping St. Johns County try to keep the wind from spreading the flames beyond fire lines.
No homes were lost by Sunday night.
"I'm hoping that it's going to go past us, but it's still scary," said Mary Melvin, one of a handful of families evacuated. "The way the winds blowing, it could blow it away from us, it could take it to us. I wish it would just stop."
The National Weather Service said the winds are not expected to die down until Tuesday or Wednesday and has issued a red flag warning for much of central and north Florida for Monday.
A second fire in St. Johns County on Sunday burned 40 or 50 acres before it was contained. Officials said that fire, in the Vermont Heights area, may have been intentionally set by three juveniles who were seen playing with a lighter.