Florida Firefighters Light Blaze to Stop Another

The only way to stop a fire in Brevard County may be to start another one. A controlled burn could be the only answer to preventing more problems.

FIRE MAP: Breakdown Of Brevard County Fire Area

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SLIDESHOW: Smoke Causes Crashes Wednesday

THE FIRE LAST WEEK:

The Beachline was closed Thursday between SR-520 and I-95 and it was not expected to be reopened all day because of smoke in the area. Firefighters were conducting a controlled burn to prevent the fire from jumping the Beachline and heading north.

Along Florida Palm Avenue in Canaveral Groves, the fire is burning close to houses. Heavy smoke is blowing along Grissom Parkway near Port Saint John. Meanwhile, firefighters are setting the controlled burn south of the Beachline and the 407. They hope it will keep the fire from spreading farther north.

The Beachline is closed and will stay closed indefinitely while crews step up their effort to stop the fire.

Brevard County's fire chief rallied his troops as they began their eighth straight day trying to stop the Areca Palms fire. More than 50 firefighters will be on patrol trying to keep the blaze from spreading. But, they said, their most productive weapon Thursday will be starting a fire themselves, a 300-acre controlled burn along the Beachline where it meets the 407.

"We want to keep it contained," said Sean Gallagher, Division of Forestry.

Firefighters hope it will keep the blaze from jumping back across the Beachline and into previously unburned areas of the St. Johns. Fire officials fear if it were to jump in the coming days it would be difficult to stop it and could burn freely toward Titusville and beyond.

Officials concede starting a new fire is a risk.

"But it's something that has to be done to save property and lives in the long run," Gallagher said.

Meanwhile, firefighters are monitoring hotspots, particularly near neighborhoods in Port St. John and Canaveral Groves, hoping a shift in the wind doesn't put any additional homes in jeopardy.

Crews are watching the winds very carefully. They are going to see what happens with the fire. Once they have burned out the area and it's clear, then they will consider re-opening the Beachline, but there is no timeline on when that might be.

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