Broward Brush Fire Continues To Spread, Scorching 1,000+ Acres
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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – For the second day in a row, a brush fire continues to burn through parts of western Pembroke Pines, scorching 1,000 acres, according to Florida Forest Service officials.
As of Thursday afternoon, it was about 20 percent contained and the hot and dry weather conditions were not helping control the blaze.
The fire broke out a couple hundred yards west of the Holly Lake mobile home community on Wednesday afternoon.
For tourists and locals, air boat rides and alligator shows were cancelled.
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 of hours ago, it was like right behind the house. It was moving swiftly this way," said Neanover.
The fire is no longer threatening homes.
Overnight into Thursday morning, the blaze continued to move north into Everglades Holiday Park. It's now being referred to as the "Holiday fire."
Forestry workers are trying to protect power lines and structures in the park as they also try to keep the fire from spreading.
"The sawgrass comes right up to the edge of a lot of the infrastructures, so we're having engines standing by with all our bombadiers to do structure protection along with the fire rescue," said Scott Peterich with Florida Forest Service.
Florida Forest Service officials say the weather conditions - the dryness and wind - continues to help the fire spread.
"The winds right now are coming from the South but they're slowly turning to the North and the northwest so that's going to possibly put smoke on Highway 27 and also impact eastern Broward County," said Peterich.
No injuries have been reported at this time.
The park has been closed down due to the fire.
Friday's weather conditions are expected to make the firefight more challenging for fire crews.
