Brush Fire Grows To 5,000 Acres

The huge brush fire in Brevard County has now grown to around 5,000 acres, and federal authorities now consider it 'significant on a national level.'

Brevard Brush Fires

Out of the 5,000 acres on fire, 3,000 are from the original fire. Two thousand acres were additionally set as a means of helping contain the fire.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife made that determination based on the size and complexity of fighting the fire.

It started Thursday west of the Kennedy Space Center just feet from some homes. Right now, no homes are in danger.

However, putting it out is no easy task.

"It’s very difficult in this area what you see behind us because this is marshland and it’s very difficult to get to, so we're having to use aircraft and some very, very specialized equipment to try to get out to this marshland,” Assistant Chief Fred Jodts said.

Firefighters say they will not be able to put out the fire until there is significant rain.

The National Weather Service says that is unlikely. The highest chance of rain this week is only 15 percent on Wednesday.

The fire is spreading faster this weekend than before because of wind speeds which are reaching 26 miles an hour.

The Brevard County Health Department's warning for people living in the area of the fires remains in effect.

Health department workers say due to an increase in the air pollution in the areas of the fires, air quality could be pushed into the unhealthy range for sensitive individuals.

People with respiratory conditions or heart disease will be the most affected by the smoke and flames and the health department says they should avoid physical exertion and outdoor activity.

For more information, visit Florida's Division of Forestry Web site at http://www.fl-dof.com/.


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