Fire officials suspect it started from somebody burning trash, but officials say dry conditions created the perfect match for this fire.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — More than 24 hours after a large brush fire broke out near County Road 214 in St. Augustine and pillows of smoke were still seen in the area.
The fire broke out around 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, according to St. Johns County Fire Rescue. It started near the train tracks located in the 1800 block of County Road 214 and spanned 17 acres. Crews had the fire 100% contained within hours of the report.
Ryon Pickles is back to work here on CR 214 after evacuating just 24 hours ago.
“I was really just scared though cause obviously when I went to leave there was a bunch of cops cars. There were a couple of helicopters flying over so it was really scary,” Pickles, who works in fire zone, said.
Fire Officials suspect it started from somebody burning trash, but officials say dry conditions created the perfect match for this fire.
“Fire season is coming. You have to realize that our humidity is down. So the surface we may get rain and everything like that and deep in the ground is is moist, but the surface stuff is a lot drier, therefore, more susceptible to brush fires at this time,” Captain Eric Prosswimmer, with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, said.
While pockets of the fire still burn, homeowners in the area can follow these tips from the Florida Forest Service to protect their property by removing vegetation that touches any structure, trimming overhanging branches and removing any vines that can carry a ground fire up into the treetops.
No injuries have been reported, according to SJCFR. The are continuing to monitor this fire but again it is 100% contained.
