Grass Fires Dot Sides of Florida Highway for Miles
Source The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.
Feb. 12--State Road 429 was shut down for several hours Sunday as firefighters battled grass fires on the edges of the roadway in western Orange County.
The road, also known as the Western Expressway, has since reopened.
Firefighters responded to several grass fires between mile markers 9 and 15, near Winter Garden, shortly before 9 a.m., according to Orange County Fire Rescue.
The fires were spread out over about a mile, and firefighters worked to keep nearby trees from igniting, Fire Rescue said.
The southbound lanes were shut down until about noon, and the northbound lanes until about 2:30.
Firefighters from the state Division of Forestry and Reedy Creek Fire Rescue also took part.
More than 50 firefighters and 30 vehicles were involved, Orange County Fire Rescue said.
Conditions were ideal Sunday for wildfires. The National Weather Service in Melbourne issued a red-flag warning for the area because of high winds and low humidity.
Copyright 2012 - The Orlando Sentinel, Fla.
