A fast-moving brush fire off Bronson Ranch Road and Highway 33 in the Four Corners area of Lake County burned roughly 15 acres on Monday, according to state forestry crews. Firefighters from the Florida Forest Service’s Withlacoochee Forestry Center responded to the scene and posted photos from the line of fire.
The Withlacoochee Forestry Center first alerted the public on Facebook, saying crews were working “a 15-acre wildfire located off of Bronson Ranch Rd / HWY 33” and flagging nearby reference points, including Road 33, Lake, Polk, Turkey Creek, and Big Creek. The post pegged the fire’s size at about 15 acres and said more details would be shared as they became available, according to the Florida Forest Service - Withlacoochee Forestry Center.
Where the Blaze Started and Who Is Responding
The Withlacoochee Forestry Center is the Florida Forest Service office responsible for wildfire suppression in Lake County, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. From its Brooksville base, the center covers Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Pasco and Sumter counties, coordinating wildfire response across that region, per the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Why Fires Are Flaring Across Central Florida
Central Florida has been dealing with an uptick in wildfires this spring as dry, breezy weather and red-flag conditions help brush fires spread quickly across the peninsula, Central Florida Public Media reported. Recent incident summaries list multiple active fires across the Southern Area in the past few weeks, a sign of the season’s higher risk, according to the National Interagency Fire Center.
People living near Four Corners are advised to keep windows and doors shut against smoke and to follow any directions from local emergency officials. The Florida Forest Service said it will continue posting updates on its Facebook page as new information comes in.
