Brush Fire Forces Evacuations, Closes Interstate 75 in Florida

SARASOTA, Fla. —  A controlled burn got out of hand and ignited thousands of acres of dry brush in Sarasota County on Wednesday, forcing evacuations and closing a three-mile stretch of Interstate 75.

Up to 40 residents of the Woodland Estates subdivision near North Port were asked to evacuate as flames consumed 3,200 acres, said Jeff Aaron, the county’s public information officer.

The Florida Highway Patrol, which shut down the interstate late Wednesday afternoon, said the highway would remain closed at least until this morning.

The county-authorized burn began Tuesday to clear about 550 acres in the Carlton Reserve. But the weather changed and winds whipped up to 23 miles an hour, fanning the blaze across a 4 1/2-mile area, Aaron said.

The fire was about 10% contained Wednesday evening, county spokeswoman Amie Haer said. “We’re optimistic that winds will die down and that we’ll be able to contain it” today.

Haer said a home and truck were destroyed, and two firefighters were injured when they were exposed to fire retardant. They were treated at a hospital and released.

In Osceola County, firefighters were getting under control a wildfire that burned more than 560 acres. The blaze was 75% contained Wednesday afternoon.

“I think we’ve got a pretty good handle on it,” said Colleen Holborn, a fire battalion chief for the Osceola County Fire Department.

The fire started Monday night and dozens of residents were evacuated. The fire melted the plastic blinds of David Spanyon’s home and destroyed his truck and 22-foot boat.

“It was like a firestorm. It touched down and picked up and touched down,” Spanyon said. “There was no rhyme or reason for where it went.”