Forest Service Expects Pembroke Pines Brush Fire To Grow Up To 1,000 Acres
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PEMBROKE PINES (CBSMiami) – Fire crews are working hard to put out a brush fire that was threatening a trailer park Wednesday evening.
The fire broke out a couple hundred yards west of the Holly Lake mobile home community.
The fire is no longer threatening homes, but it's expected to move towards Everglades Holiday Park.
According to the Forest Service, the fire covered 600 acres Wednesday night and was 20 percent contained.
"The wind took it all the way down here and then it just kept going," said Ferdinand Padilla.
"I was at work but my mom told me it'd gotten really close when she called me," said Mariela Mino. "I rushed here just in case. It was scary."
Chopper4 flew over the area as the "Holiday Fire," as it's being called, got too close for comfort for residents.
"We could see the flames. That's how close it was," said Padilla.
"It was real close. It was very close to the house," said Mino.
Barbara Neanover, who's lived at the Holly Lake mobile home community for nearly 40 years, said she's never seen a fire get this close.
She said this is the first time she recalls a fire jumping the levee behind the mobile home park.
"When I came home a couple hours ago, it was like right behind the house. It was moving swiftly this way," said Neanover.
Florida Forest Service officials say the weather conditions – the dryness and wind – helped this fire spread rather quickly. They're hoping the overnight weather conditions work in their favor.
"What we're hoping is the humidity continues to increase because of nightfall and the winds hopefully will die down," said Florida Forest Service spokesman Scott Peterich. "Maybe it will run into an area of less vegetation"
No injuries have been reported at this time. The Forest Service said the blaze could grow up to 1,000 acres. A total of six units are fighting the fire.
