Troopers monitor SR 429 after brush fires

Florida Highway Patrol troopers are monitoring a stretch of State Road 429 in Orange County for smoke.

The road was shut down for a while on Sunday because of several small brush fires.

Officials said the fire started in the grass on the shoulder of the road and spread back into the woods.

The brush fires broke out along SR 429 around exit 11 at Seidel Road. Thick smoke created blinding conditions.

Both the northbound and southbound lanes were shut down by troopers while firefighters worked the fires. They have since reopened.

Firefighters said the deadly I-75 crash a few weeks ago played a role in their decision to close the road. Eleven people were killed in chain reaction crashes in a mix of smoke and fog.