Firefighters in Martin County are battling a brush fire that has swept through over 100 acres near Palm City, prompting evacuations and road closures on Friday. Martin County Fire Rescue(MCFR) teams rushed to the scene near the 3100 block of SW Buena Vista Drive as flames spread quickly, forcing residents and their animals to flee for safety, as reported by CBS12.
The blaze, initially threatening homes in the Stuart West Cobblestone community, was contained to 30-40 acres by evening, with MCFR and the Florida Forest Service working diligently to establish fire lines. According to WPBF, despite a brush fire that expanded rapidly, firefighters managed to protect all neighboring houses, and no property damage reports have emerged.
Rescue efforts were intensified with the help of agencies such as St. Lucie County Fire Rescue and the Stuart Fire Department. "We don't leave until we're confident that we're not going to have any rekindle," Martin County Fire Rescue Chief Chad Cianciulli told WPBF. This level of vigilance is characteristic of the firefighting teams who remained on scene throughout the night, prepared to tackle any flare-ups.
Martin County Sheriff's Office temporarily shut down the westbound lanes of Martin Highway due to poor visibility caused by the heavy smoke. Further compounding the challenge for motorists, the fire continued to burn close to I-95, and even though roadways have since reopened, officials caution drivers as conditions remain hazardous. Reflecting on the urgency of the situation, evacuee Derek Craver described to CBS12 News, "It's kind of hectic, a little bit of panic especially when they tell you to leave."
As crews continue to monitor hot spots into the morning, aerial support has been instrumental, with both a State Forestry helicopter and Martin County Sheriff's Office chopper conducting water drops. Residents, meanwhile, who had been evacuated earlier are now being allowed to return home as the situation has stabilized and the threat has subsided.
