A 2-acre brush fire broke out behind the Museum of Science and Industry this afternoon, but firefighters worked quickly to ensure the blaze didn't disrupt the Renaissance Festival under way there, Tampa fire officials said. ...more

March 14, 2009

Dry conditions are triggering more brush fires than usual and authorities are trying harder to alert motorists to the smoky hazards after last year's deadly pileup on Interstate 4. ...more

March 14, 2009

Dry conditions are triggering more brush fires than usual and authorities are trying harder to alert motorists to the smoky hazards after last year's deadly pileup on Interstate 4. ...more

March 11, 2009

Florida has recorded twice as many wildfires this year compared with this time a year ago, and the danger increases every day. ...more

March 11, 2009

Florida has recorded twice as many wildfires as a year ago at this time and the danger increases every day. ...more

March 10, 2009

Fog is affecting visibility along the Interstate 4 corridor as well as in Lakeland and between Plant City and downtown Tampa, News Channel 8 meteorologist Jennifer Hill said. However, lingering smoke from a brush fire was affecting drivers on I-4 and Old Polk City Road earlier this morning but had dissipated by 6 a.m., TBO.com traffic reporter Alicia Roberts said. ...more

March 10, 2009

Recently the Kindergarten Learning Center held our annual Transportation Day. The students and staff were amazed by the generosity of local businesses and individuals who sacrificed their valuable time explaining their equipment and jobs. Utilizing our parking lot and bus loop to display their trucks, cranes, jet skies and so many other vehicles, the following people spent the better of the morning with us: Fred Nugent from Annett Bus Lines, Susan Bible from Sebring Florist, Randy Leonard of Alan Jay Automotive, James Byers of S.O.S. Septic, Joe Steiner from PRS Transport, Neil Thomas representing Thomas and Thomas Services; Josh Saucier from The Bike Shop, Officer Vivianne Buck of the Sebring Police Department, Opal Torres representing the city of Sebring Municipal Golf Course, Jack Dunham from Sebring's Public Works Department, Kip Goolsby of The Triple G Dairy, Jim Parker from U Scream I Scream ice cream, Officer James Parker from the Avon Park Police Department, Travis Wilson and Allen Larsen of Truly Nolen, Tony Powell representing Glades Electric, Sam McGrath & Michael Smith from Long's Air Conditioning, Jesse Gallegos from Lake Placid Marine, Doug Pifer and Brian Glisson from Highlands County Emergency Medical Service, Ryan Feikert and Wayne Settles representing the Sebring Fire Department, Joshua Cameron from the Division of Forestry, and Deputy Brian Giguere from the Highlands County Sheriff's DARE department. ...more

March 7, 2009

A Frostproof fire is now 100 percent contained but has done plenty of damage. ...more

March 3, 2009

SEBRING Highlands County residents parking their cars or mowing on dry, high grass are inadvertently causing wildfires, which have been higher than usual for this time of the year. ...more

March 3, 2009

The smell of smoke is overpowering in some parts of the Tampa Bay area this morning. Three brush fires that burned a total of more than 1,000 acres Thursday in Polk County are under control, but firefighters are monitoring them for hot spots, authorities say. They say any change in wind conditions could cause the flames to flare up again. ...more

February 27, 2009