Road closures possible again near Palm Bay as 600-acre brush fire smolders

PALM BAY, Fla. — Smoke from the more than 500-acre brush fire in Palm Bay may cause road closures Tuesday morning as crews work to mop up the blaze, according to WFTV meteorologist George Waldenberger.

"We’ll be especially watching I-95 in southern Brevard County as well as Micco Road and Babcock Street for reduced visibilities, and the potential for more closures during tomorrow morning’s drive," said Waldenberger.

The Micco Preserve fire shut down a large stretch of Interstate 95 in Brevard County for several hours Monday morning.

The interstate was shut down about 4 a.m. and reopened shortly after 8 a.m.

Florida Forest Service officials, along with Palm Bay and Brevard County firefighters, began battling the 600-acre blaze around 4:45 p.m. Sunday in the Micco Preserve.

The fire was 100 percent contained as of Monday afternoon.

Multiple tanker trucks are responding to the fire—as well as four Forest Service tractors and the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office helicopter, officials said.

Palm Bay fire officials said the fire had jumped Babcock Street.

TRAFFIC SECTION: Find an alternate route

Babcock Street was shut down from Malabar Road to Micco Road, bur reopened about 7:30 a.m.

Palm Bay Fire Rescue officials said on Twitter early Monday that the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office shut down south Interstate 95 from Malabar Road to the county line.

Florida Highway Patrol troopers shut down the north lanes of the interstate from the county line to Malabar Road.

The interstate later reopened, but officials are still fighting the blaze.

"This fire serves to highlight that Central Florida is in one of the most vulnerable parts of our year-round wildfire season," said Cliff Frazier, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. "This may be attributed to the lack of rain, high wind gusts, dry vegetation, and low humidity levels."

Cox Media Group