Wildfires scorch Central Florida

The Associated Press

Published: Monday, May 12, 2008 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Sunday, May 11, 2008 at 11:52 p.m.

MALABAR - Brush fires shut down roads in Central Florida on Sunday and forced hundreds of homes to evacuate, authorities said.

The Associated Press

A home owner is silhouetted by a smoke filled sky while attempting to water down the roof of his home to protect it from hot embers from a brush fire in Daytona Beach on Sunday. Brush fires shut down roads in central Florida on Saturday and forced evacuations, authorities said.

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Florida fires

Winds of up to 40 mph stoked the fires that burned nearly 3,000 acres in Volusia and Brevard counties, forcing authorities to evacuate at least 400 homes in Cocoa, Palm Bay and Daytona Beach, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Heavy smoke from a blaze near Malabar shut down a portion of Interstate 95 in Brevard County.

At least one home and one commercial building in Brevard County were damaged, the Orlando Sentinel reported.

Florida Division of Forestry spokesman Timber Weller said heavy winds and dry conditions made the fire especially challenging.

"Control is extremely difficult and there's basically several small subdivisions in the area and fires burning, in some cases, very close to the homes,'' Weller said.

An American Red Cross shelter was set up at a Daytona Beach hotel for Volusia County evacuees and the city has established a hot line, according to a news release.

About 200 animals housed at the Halifax Humane Society were also evacuated.