Brevard County Wildfire Threatened 19 Homes

Firefighters are working around the clock to keep a close watch on a Brevard County wildfire that threatened several homes for hours.

Nearly 100 firefighters were called to battle the flames off US-1 near Mims on Sunday. Strong winds fueled the fire and at one point 19 homes were threatened by the flames. Three homes even had to be evacuated.

Officials for the Division of Forestry are working to cut fire lines in the wooded area on US-1 near Mims. Firefighters are preparing for winds to reach 25 miles per hour as Monday progresses.

AT THE SCENE: Wildfire Threatened Homes Near Mims

“The way the wind is blowing a fire like that can change directions and move right in on you,” resident Jeff Dixon said.

Fire crews poured water on the dry brush and used sharp shovels to break up anything that could fuel a fire.

So far, the fire that burned 40 acres of land is still under control. But firefighters are chasing flare-ups like the one near Ed and Marcie Huess' home on Golden Shores Boulevard.

“Only scary because you can see all the smoke coming, didn't know how close it was,” Marcie Huess said.

Part of Ed Huess’s property was destroyed in the 1998 wildfires.

“It toasted some of the material on the house we had to replace,” he said.

Thick smoke was an issue Monday morning, and while the wind was pushing most of it out of the immediate area the smell lingered.

Officials for the Division of Forestry believe dry conditions and strong wind fueled the fire Sunday. However, they are still trying to determine what started the blaze.

“I think it was probably set. I don't think that the dry conditions would’ve started this,” Ed Huess said.

WFTV learned the fire may have started behind one of the homes located on April Lane.