Florida Governor Declares Fire Emergency

TALLAHASSEE, Florida, May 12, 2008 (ENS) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist today declared a state of emergency as firefighters in Brevard and Volusia counties continued to battle at least a dozen separate brush fires on Florida's central Atlantic coast fanned by high winds and dry conditions. Authorities believe many of the fires were deliberately set.

In the town of Malabar in Brevard County, brush fires continue to pose a threat to homes in the area of Rocky Point Road. The fire has jumped US1 and continues to move east prompting the closure of US1 at Rocky Point Road to Valkeria Road.

Other areas threatened by brush fires in the Malabar/Valkeria area are Gradick Dr., Henderson Dr., Greenbrooke St., and areas between Valley Road and Valkeria Road.

These fires have consumed 3,000 acres and are still growing. Two homes have burned down, with one family escaping with only the clothes they had on.

There are over 100 firefighters on the ground and air support is also being provided. No injuries have been reported.

A 250 acre brush fire continues to burn in the area of Cox Road, Friday Road, S.R. 524, and Satellite Boulevard. Currently, the fire is about 80 percent contained, according to Brevard County Fire Rescue. No injuries have been reported. More than 100 families in this area were ordered to evacuate because of the fire.

The Brevard County Fire Rescue has activated the Brush Fire Hot Line at 637-5550. Information will be provided to citizens pertaining to local brush fire activity, and evacuations.

In Volusia County, one fire, between 500 and 600 acres, is currently burning in Daytona Beach. Authorities have ordered a road closure west of I-95 in West Daytona Beach, and evacuations are ongoing in West Daytona Beach.

In Cocoa, Florida, Brevard County, just south of Cape Canaveral, fire engines gather to battle the wildfire. May 12, 2008 (Photo credit unknown)

An 800-acre brushfire in northwest Daytona Beach has been confined, and the Division of Forestry said the fire is about 55 percent contained.

Timber Weller of the Division of Forestry and Fred Godawa, of the Daytona Beach Fire Department allowed residents with special needs who live in the LPGA subdivision to enter their homes briefly to retrieve essential items.

The American Red Cross has established a shelter at the Hampton Inn, 1715 West International Speedway Blvd. in Daytona Beach.

In addition, About 8,600 acres continue to burn around the Lake Okeechobee area today in two separate fires. One fire at Grassy Island three miles north of Clewiston has burned 5,600 acres, and the other in the Myakka Cut about five miles east of Clewiston has burned some 3,000 acres. Each fire is about 50 percent contained, fire officials said.

Extreme fire weather conditions exist nearly statewide today. Northwesterly winds gusting over 25 miles per hour across most of the state combined with falling afternoon humidity values have created volatile conditions that resulted in the rapid spread of wildfires today.

Red Flag Warnings have been posted for all areas of the state except for south Florida, where isolated showers are possible during the afternoon hours along a southward moving cold front.

Emergency officials are warning both residents and visitors to be "extremely cautious" when outdoors this week. Dry weather is forecast to continue during the next several days.

Floridians are warned to make sure that their homes and communities are prepared for the increasingly dangerous fire conditions that will likely persist through the end of May.

Temperatures have again climbed to near record levels in southeast Florida, where highs on Monday afternoon will approach the mid-90s.

Winds are forecast to diminish across north Florida tonight as high pressure builds eastward from the Mississippi Valley.

Low temperatures may approach daily records in interior north Florida, where readings will drop into the upper 40s by Tuesday morning, yet highs on Tuesday will climb into the 80s statewide.

Copyright Environment News Service (ENS) 2008. All rights reserved.