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Crews investigate cause of Avalon Park brush fire

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — About a dozen families were evacuated in Avalon Park Friday afternoon because of a brush fire that burned close to their homes.

The fire is 100 percent contained but its cause is still under investigation.

Renee Stoll found out officials have received reports of children playing with fire in that area, but the fire still has not been labeled as suspicious.

Residents could do nothing but watch Friday as flames and smoke came dangerously close to homes.

“I look outside and there’s like flames up in my backyard,” Lindsey Burnell said.

Fire fighters said shifting winds worked against them and left the fire to burn about 15 acres, which forced a block of residents to evacuate their homes.

“A fireman came up to my back yard and said ‘Please take all your patio cushions in,’ so I did that, and I got all the baby pictures, passports, all the stuff in the fire box and put them in my car,” said resident Jill Meunier.

Fire fighters are not calling the fire outright suspicious but they did receive reports of kids playing with fire and say they are checking into it.

Resident Inez Burnell found the fire particularly scary because her five kids were home when it started, while she rushed to leave work.

“They're sending me pictures and text messages and calling me. I'm like ‘Oh no get out of the house,” she said. “Sure enough the yard was on fire.”

Fire crews plan to remain at the scene to watch for hot spots.

They said this type of fire does not extinguish, they have to wait for it to burn out.