CENTRAL FLORIDA,None — There are several fires burning on Wednesday throughout Central Florida and some have threatened homes and caused evacuations.
Residents scrambled to save their homes from wildfires in Volusia County on Wednesday. There are two new wildfires burning in Volusia County. One fire is along I-95 in Ormond Beach, and the other has evacuated homes north of DeLand.
Deputies closed SR-40 because fire crews were worried the wind could have pushed the blaze across the road. However, late Wednesday evening, the road was reopened.
Fire crews are using plow after plow to create fire lines in an effort to stop a 60-acre wildfire near SR-11, west of Ormond Beach. People who live nearby are working hard to protect their homes with what they have.
"We just water everything down and turn the diesels on and water the fern and the crops so it keeps the ground wet," said homeowner Carmen Clifton.
Clifton was spraying off her neighbor's roof because she was at work.
"She is a good friend. Good friends make good neighbors," Clifton said.
The fire was just yards away from the house. Volusia County sheriff deputies told Clifton she had to evacuate.
A few miles away, a one-acre brush fire added smoke to I-95. Three helicopters are helping by dropping water on the flames.
Firefighters from DeLand, Ormond Beach, Volusia County, and one unit from Lake County, are trying to protect the nearby homes. Senior forest ranger Mike Stigler has been working 18 hour straight to put it out.
"We are beating these tractors up right now and we are running thin on all the fires," said Stigler.
Volusia fire officials said they will shift into offensive mode once they are 100-percent sure all homes are safe. Crews are also monitoring several other fires that have already destroyed some homes near Osteen. It's already burned 1,200 acres and charred dozens of homes.
In Edgewater, lightning started a 35-acre fire off Beacon Light Road that also threatened homes.
Meanwhile another fire broke out in Lake County Wednesday afternoon in the Lake Mack area near CR-42. There are some homes nearby, but the fire didn't appear to be a threat to those residents.
Firefighters are also battling a blaze burning in Wekiva.
A new fire in the Seminole Woods section of Palm Coast had firefighters scrambling to douse flames in a residential area of Flagler County Wednesday afternoon. Officials said, so far, no homes were damaged and an evacuation has not been ordered.
WFTV
