Polk County wildfires burn hundreds of acres, destroy 60 hunting camps
Ken Suarez reports
RIVER RANCH, Fla - The exceedingly dry weather has created a perfect storm for wildfires. As of Wednesday afternoon, a dozen wildfires were burning in Polk County alone. We have had about a month of little to no rain, nice sunny days, warm days, low humidity, gusty winds, and it has really dried a lot of stuff out, Florida Forestry Service spokesman Todd Chlanda told FOX 13.
Wildfires are popping up all over South and Central Florida and Polk County is being hit especially hard.
The situation is so serious, crews from North Florida are in Polk County with heavy equipment to act as backup for the Forestry Service and Polk Fire Rescue.
County Road 640 reopens south of Bartow as crews surround brush fire
By FOX 13 News Staff
Published
Photo via Polk Fire Rescue
BARTOW, Fla. - A brush fire that closed roads in Polk County overnight is now entirely contained, firefighters say.
The fire – dubbed the Agricola Road Fire by the Florida Forest Service – began burning south of County Road 640 southwest of Bartow around 4 p.m. Tuesday. They think it may have been started by chains dragging from a trailer.
C.R. 640 was closed during the night but reopened this morning as crews began to contain the blaze. As of 5 p.m., the fire was 100-percent contained after burning 175 acres south of the Mosaic stacks – a slightly smaller footprint than first thought.
County Road 640 reopens south of Bartow as brush fire continues to burn
By FOX 13 News Staff
Published
Photo via Polk Fire Rescue
BARTOW, Fla. - A brush fire that closed roads in Polk County overnight is now mostly contained, firefighters say.
The fire – dubbed the Agricola Road Fire by the Florida Forest Service – began burning south of County Road 640 southwest of Bartow around 4 p.m. Tuesday. They think it may have been started by chains dragging from a trailer.
C.R. 640 was closed during the night but reopened this morning as crews began to contain the blaze. As of 10 a.m., the fire was 60-percent contained after burning 300 acres south of the Mosaic stacks.