Rough weather Tuesday afternoon produced hail in Brooksville, several lighting strikes and power outages for hundreds of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative customers. ...more

June 25, 2008

BARTOW A brush fire consumed between 1 and 2 acres and destroyed a shed today in central Polk County. The fire started near the intersection of Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road and Alturas Road, southeast of Bartow. At one point, people in two homes had to evacuate, but firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze before it damaged any homes, according to a news release from Polk County Public Safety. Firefighters from Polk County Fire Rescue, the Lake Wales Fire Department, Ft. Meade Fire Department and the Division of Forestry are still on the scene. The 6900 block of Alturas Babson Park Cutoff Road is temporarily blocked by equipment. Investigators from the Division of Forestry are working to determine what caused the fire. ...more

June 7, 2008

SEBRING — A small wildfire in the northeast part of Highlands Hammock State Park was extinguished Monday evening, causing no injuries or property damage. The rain helped firefighters and forestry officials put a quick end to the fire. Chief Scott Mann of the West Sebring Volunteer Fire Department said the fire affected about five acres before it was put out 7:30 p.m. ...more

June 3, 2008

NORTH PORT -- A brush fire closed the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 75 between mile markers 182 and 187 for a couple of hours Friday night, the Florida Highway Patrol said. Sarasota County Fire Rescue estimates the interstate will reopen in one to two hours. ...more

May 30, 2008

A brush fire in Alturas in Polk County this afternoon has been contained, public safety spokeswoman Heather McClanahan said. Also, firefighters contained a pair of brush fires burning near each other southwest of Bartow, Polk officials said this morning. The fires, which started late Thursday, have burned about 20 acres, said Heather McLanahan, a Polk fire spokeswoman. They are near Noralyn Mine Road and County Road 640. ...more

May 30, 2008

Firefighters in Polk County are fighting a brush fire near Bartow that so far has burned about 35 acres. ...more

May 29, 2008

A 40-acre brush fire near Hillsborough Avenue will be smoldering for the next two to three days, potentially posing health risks for anyone with respiratory problems in the area, fire officials say. ...more

May 28, 2008

SEBRING — Although flames reached 10 to 15 feet and embers flew up to 100 yards Tuesday afternoon, firefighters kept a brush fire from causing major damage near Hammock Road. Two homes had minor soffit damage and cracked glass from the heat, and one car was destroyed between Heron and Barn Owl streets and Scrub Jay and Cardinal avenues. The fire, which burned five acres, was fully contained late Tuesday afternoon, according to Florida Division of Forestry Senior Forester Dale Armstrong. ...more

May 27, 2008

INDIAN LAKES ESTATES - Firefighters are battling a pair of brush in eastern Polk County. A 3-acre brush fire is burning near Toronja Dr. and Valencia Dr. in Indian Lake Estates South, east of Lake Wales, said spokeswoman Kristin Guira. A lightning strike to a tree is thought to have caused the fire. ...more

May 24, 2008