Wildland firefighters from the Florida Forest Service’s Withlacoochee Forestry Center were called out Monday to a wildfire burning near the popular Van Fleet area in Lake County. Officials said the blaze is south of Waters Road and urged the public to steer clear so crews can work without dodging sightseers. Photos shared with the update show smoke stacking up over swampy lowlands along a nearby river corridor, turning an otherwise quiet stretch of forest into a very busy work zone.
Where the blaze is burning
In a Facebook update, the Withlacoochee Forestry Center pinpointed the fire "near Van Fleet and south of Waters Rd," noting nearby landmarks like Loggy Pond Swamp, the Withlacoochee River, and Wale Road, according to Florida Forest Service - Withlacoochee Forestry Center. The post included line photos and a transcript that called out those local reference points, along with a "102 ft" note in the captions. Officials again asked trail users and nearby residents to stay off forest roads and give emergency vehicles room to move while firefighters are on the ground.
How crews are responding
The Withlacoochee unit is the regional wildland firefighting outfit that covers Lake County and surrounding areas, coordinating suppression efforts, control lines, and mop-up work, per the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services. On swamp fires, tactics often lean on hand crews cutting control lines, engine crews guarding access roads, and aircraft when conditions cooperate. According to the center’s latest update, responders are on scene working to halt the fire’s forward spread and lock in the perimeter.
Why fires have been flaring
Central Florida has been dealing with a bump in wildfire activity this spring as dry, windy weather turns local vegetation into easier fuel, according to Central Florida Public Media. Recent coverage has highlighted several incidents in the broader Withlacoochee region, including a mid-May brush fire that burned an estimated 15 acres, per Hoodline's reporting on regional fires. Those patterns have prompted more patrols on the ground and repeated reminders to skip open burns and treat anything that can throw a spark like it is a lit match.
What to watch for
People living or traveling near the Van Fleet corridor should be ready for smoke in the area and possible short-term closures of forest roads and trails, and are urged to monitor local emergency alerts for any changes. For official fire maps and statewide wildfire details, the Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services wildfire page and the Withlacoochee Forestry Center’s social channels will carry ongoing updates.
