VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — A portion of Interstate 95 has reopened Thursday after a brush fire closed down the roadway near New Smyrna Beach.
The fire was supposed to be a controlled burn, but it got out of control as crews were burning trees at a construction site.
The road was shut down in both directions shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday near Dunlawton Avenue and State Road 44, and reopened just after 9:30 a.m. Thursday.
Although visibility improved enough to open the road, officials said that could change later in the day.
Pioneer Trail remains closed.
The fire was burning on the interstate's shoulder and median, Montes said.
Firefighters were still monitoring the wooded median for flare-ups in the afternoon.
Officials said the blaze was about 15 acres when it started, but it grew to more than 200 acres by Wednesday evening.
Troopers will be monitoring the area for the next several days to make sure visibility doesn’t drop again.
Barricades will be left on the sides of the exit ramps in case it needs to close again quickly.
The #PioneerTrailFire remains at 204 acres and 90% contained. Your Wildland Firefighters will be out conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for hot spots. Our partners with @volusiafire @CityofNSB @CityofEdgewater are assisting with operations today. pic.twitter.com/pGFkWUhVAB
— FFS Bunnell (@FFS_Bunnell) March 29, 2018
#PioneerTrailFire is now 209 acres. Crews facing challenges in the interior as a result of snags from 2006 wildfire in this area. Burnout operations still being conducted. Remains 50% contained. pic.twitter.com/YfA5cOpttv
— FFS Bunnell (@FFS_Bunnell) March 28, 2018
Fire continues to burn as the freeway is shutdown pic.twitter.com/fX097SBmDI
— Mike Springer WFTV (@mspringerwftv) March 28, 2018
The #PioneerTrailFire remains at 204 acres and 90% contained. Your Wildland Firefighters will be out conducting mop-up operations and monitoring for hot spots. Our partners with @volusiafire @CityofNSB @CityofEdgewater are assisting with operations today. pic.twitter.com/pGFkWUhVAB
— FFS Bunnell (@FFS_Bunnell) March 29, 2018
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