Merritt Island brush fire burns over 1,000-acres at wildlife refuge site
Merritt Island brush fire burns over 1,000-acres at wildlife refuge site
19 March 2017
published by www.floridatoday.com
USA A thick haze of acrid smoke greeted Central Brevard residents early Monday as a 1,000-acre brush fire burned through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.
By afternoon, the burning area known as Sonny Fire was about 50 percent contained, according to fire officials monitoring the blaze.
The fire, fed by dry, windy weather, broke out late Sunday and quickly spread, moving fire officials to shut down a portion of State Road 3. Firefighters remained at the site overnight to plow burn lines and to dampen spot overs before they spread the flames.
Massive fire west of Titusville mostly contained
The brush fire cast a thick smoke and orange glow over the evening sky and was near Taylor Road and Haulover Canal. The cause was not immediately known. The smoke wafted southward overnight and could be smelled and seen as far as the Pineda Causeway and in portions of Viera.
In the past, firefighters targeted the 140,000-acre natural reserve for a number of prescribed burns to help control overgrowth.
Authorities tweeted that the wildfire appeared close to the Volusia County line. A second, smoldering brush fire continues to burn along State Road 50.
Motorists are reminded to use caution as smoky conditions continue to impact the area.
