What started as a relatively small brush fire turned into a tense afternoon for residents near North Hiawassee Road yesterday, as smoke rolled over backyards and a fast-moving blaze crept toward Crooked Lake.
Orange County firefighters were called out to a roughly 1.5-acre brush fire west of North Hiawassee Road, working to head off the flames before they could threaten nearby homes or utilities. The fire was pushing toward Crooked Lake and drew multiple units to the scene, with the Ocoee Fire Department assisting, according to FOX 35 Orlando. No injuries had been reported at the time, officials told reporters.
Chopper video showed the fire burning close to a subdivision just west of Hiawassee Road and north of Silver Star Road, with smoke clearly visible from the air. Reporters on scene also pointed out a nearby power station that crews were keeping a very close eye on. Officials told WESH that no homes were involved at that point, although smoke and embers were drifting over neighboring yards.
Crews Working To Hold The Line
Firefighters focused on boxing in the fire and protecting nearby properties while additional engines and crews stood by to pounce on any flare-ups. The top priority was to keep the flames from chewing into thicker brush or reaching the lakeshore, where conditions could have made the fire a lot tougher to control, according to FOX 35 Orlando. Neighbors watched from a safe distance as firefighters methodically worked the fire’s perimeter.
The stretch of North Hiawassee has seen more fire activity than locals would like. An abandoned church along the corridor went up in a late-night blaze last year, rattling the neighborhood and fueling complaints about neglected properties and enforcement. For more background on that incident, see Hoodline’s coverage of the late-night Pine Hills church fire.
Why The Danger Is High
Central Florida has been running unusually dry this month, and fire managers say it is the kind of pattern that turns a small patch of burning brush into a much bigger headache. Low humidity paired with gusty winds can rapidly accelerate fire spread, according to ClickOrlando.
Several nearby counties have already put burn bans or tighter restrictions in place as the drought deepens, and officials are urging residents to skip yard burning, be cautious with any open flame, and call in smoke sightings quickly, per Central Florida Public Media.
As of the latest update, there were still no evacuations or injuries reported, and crews remained on scene to keep watch for flare-ups, WESH reported. Orange County Fire Rescue and its partner agencies are expected to provide further updates if conditions change, and residents in the area have been asked to steer clear of the scene and follow official channels for the latest information.
