VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla.,None — A massive wildfire in Volusia and Brevard counties grew to more than 10,000 acres and was still burning, officials said Tuesday morning. It jumped both I-95 and US-1, closing the roads Monday evening into Tuesday morning. Both roads were reopened just after 9:00am Tuesday.
The fire burned a mobile home near Mims overnight. According to officials, the fire has also burned two hunt clubs in the area.
Pinewood Elementary School in Mims is closed Tuesday because of the fire. Additionally, school buses are not running north of SR-46 Tuesday morning. All other schools will remain open.
TEAM COVERAGE: Fire Grows, Burns Mobile Home MOBILE HOME BURNS: Images | Raw Video HUGE WILDFIRE: Raw Video | Ground Pics | Aerials Pics RAW INTERVIEWS: Witnesses Talk About Fire
Embers were flying onto I-95 as the flames consumed trees right up to the road way. The fire also jumped US-1, forcing officials to close the road from the Kennedy Parkway to SR-46, but has since been reopened. The exit ramps from I-95 to CR-5A have also been reopened.
Due to the growing brush fire in the Brevard County's north end, Brevard County Fire Rescue and Brevard County Emergency Management called for a voluntary evacuation of residents who live in the area bordered by CR-5A on the north, SR-46 on the south, US-1 on the east, and the St. John's River on the west.
Shelters were opened at the Cuyler Community Center, at 2329 Harry T. Moore Avenue in Mims (see map), and at the Sandrift Community Center, 585 N. Singleton Avenue in Titusville(see map).
A line of rain moved through the area Tuesday morning offering some relief to firefighters, though the fire continues to burn.
In a Tuesday morning press conference, officials expressed concern about the south flank of the fire, in Brevard County. They said shifting winds in the afternoon could push the fire in the direction of several hundred homes, and that they would be setting up to protect those homes.
Monday night, crews used helicopters to dump water on the fire, but still it grew. Two DOF helicopters and two fixed-wing air tankers will begin water drops early Tuesday afternoon.
Ground Fire 08 Ground Fire 08 ON THE SCENE: Ground Images Of Fire AERIAL VIEW: See Images | Watch Video The fire jumped Stuckway Road and approached the Scottsmoor community on Magoon Avenue and Vermont Street in Scottsmoor (see map) , where Harold Lacoste and his wife packed their car with pictures and family heirlooms.
"It didn't look like it was going to hit us all afternoon, then all of a sudden it flared back up," Lacoste said.
Lacoste said he has been a victim of wildfires in the past and he doesn't want to wait and risk being trapped.
"Just like back in '98. It's on you so fast you don't know what happened, you know," he said.
Deputies evacuated travelers from the Crystal Lake RV Park in Scottsmoor (see map) Monday afternoon. They will stay at a community center in Mims and won't be allowed to go back and get their travel homes.
"Now, we got the fire going on and a motor home sitting there, $180,000. So, you know, what are you going to do?" tourist Leo Patterson said.
The massive blaze was first reported around 10:00 Monday morning on Miami Corporation-owned land, north of SR-46 in Volusia County.
The Department of Forestry said the cause is not known. The state did not issue a burn permit for the area.