March 03--Authorities reopened Interstate 95 in Volusia County and scaled back evacuation orders after firefighters gained the upper hand on a large brush fire near the Flagler-Volusia county line.
Smoke from the fire forced the closure of I-95 in both directions between U.S. 1 and Florida 40 for hours Saturday, causing long traffic backups.
The fire, known as the Durrance fire, grew to 1,000 acres. But by Saturday night, firefighters had it 75 percent contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
No homes had been damaged by the blaze. Authorities originally issued an evacuation order for several hundred homes, but later reduced the impact to about 50 homes. The order was lifted for residents in the Cypress Place, Deer Creek and Southern Pines subdivisions, according to Volusia County officials.
David Bauerlein: (904) 359-4581
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