KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.,None — Thousands of acres were on fire in Brevard County on Wednesday because of controlled burns. Three different agencies are burning land near Titusville on the Duda Ranch and along the St. Johns River.
Some of the fires covered local roads with smoke and came dangerously close to buildings at Kennedy Space Center, so WFTV asked why they're conducting these burns now.
The agencies want to burn the dry brush when the winds are light. The problems start when the winds stop altogether, and the smoke starts to settle near the ground.
The massive controlled burn near the Great Outdoors RV Park sent a dark plume of smoke hundreds of feet into the air.
Residents who live nearby were warned about the fire, but some still questioned the timing just days after 11 people were killed in a series of crashes along a smoky Interstate 75.
Settling smoke from a controlled burn in the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge forced Kennedy Space Center to shut some of its gates. Air sensor alarms went off in some buildings and hundreds of workers were told to go home.
2,100 acres were burned around the KSC’s industrial complex. Workers in the environmental health facility were told to stay put when flames came within a few yards of that building.
At one point, the fire did jump S.R. 3 and out of intended burn area.
Firefighters said controlled burns do get rid of built-up fuel and are typically safer than wildfires, because firefighters are already in place.
Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge officals said they knew smoke could be an issue, and had been patrolling the roads ready to shut them down.
State troopers have increased patrols along S.R. 50 and Interstate 95.
Troopers don't have a say on starting these fires, but they will shut down these highways if the visibility drops.
Meanwhile, several prisoners were briefly evacuated from a work release center in Volusia County Wednesday afternoon because of a brush fire.
Skywitness 9 HD flew over the fire around 2:30 near U.S. 92 and Roosevelt Boulevard in Daytona Beach.
In three hours, the fire more than tripled in size and grew to nearly 20 acres. Officials said the fire is around 60 percent contained.
WFTV
