Firefighters in Citrus County spent Sunday boxing in two brush fires that chewed through dry grass and scrub but stopped short of nearby neighborhoods. The larger blaze along S. Fitch Avenue in Inverness grew to about eight acres, while a second fire on W. Bonanza Drive in the Beverly Hills community scorched roughly five acres. Officials said damage at the Fitch Avenue scene was limited to a fence post and a melted well-pump pipe, no injuries were reported, and both fires were described as human-caused and brought under control the same day.
According to Citrus County Fire Rescue, the Inverness fire threatened outbuildings, but crews were able to protect nearby structures and complete mop-up work before the flames could rekindle. The agency said local units were assisted on scene by the Inverness Fire Department and the Florida Forest Service's Withlacoochee Forestry Center in a coordinated, multi-agency response. Citrus County Fire Rescue also reported that both blazes were determined to be human-caused and were declared contained before the end of the day.
Dry Conditions And The Burn Ban
Florida's wildfire-prevention guidance notes that the Keetch-Byram Drought Index is used to help determine when counties must restrict outdoor burning, and that elevated KBDI values significantly increase the risk of fast-moving fires, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Citrus County currently has a countywide burn ban in effect because of dry weather and high KBDI readings, as reported by ABC Action News. The ban restricts open burning, with exceptions only for contained cooking devices and authorized, permitted work by agencies.
Damage Was Limited
Citrus County Fire Rescue said the S. Fitch Avenue fire caused minor property damage: a burned fence post and a melted well-pump pipe. The W. Bonanza Drive blaze briefly threatened nearby homes before firefighters contained it. Both incidents were labeled human-caused, and the department has not released public details on how either fire started while investigators continue follow-up work. Fire officials thanked residents for calling in smoke reports quickly and credited the multi-agency response with keeping both incidents small.
What Residents Should Do
Officials are reminding residents not to conduct any outdoor burning while the countywide ban remains in effect and to call 911 immediately if they see smoke or flames. The Florida Forest Service recommends creating defensible space around homes, removing dead vegetation, and avoiding parking or idling on dry grass to prevent accidental ignitions, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. County notices and local outlets also warn that violating the burn ban can lead to fines or other penalties, underscoring that the rules are about both safety and legal responsibility.
