Officials Say Large Blaze in North Florida May be Arson

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) -- A recent wildfire in that spread across about 1,200 acres in north Florida within a day is being investigated as a possible arson, officials said.

The fire began in the Bethea State Forest in northern Baker County, and spread to the Osceola National Forest within hours. Extremely dry conditions fed the flames.

An investigator from the Florida Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement was helping determine the cause of the blaze. There were no prescribed burns in the area, and no recent lightning strikes, leaving arson as a possible cause, officials said.

The fire traveled past the communities of Baxter and Taylor, but no homes were in immediate danger late Thursday, one day after the fire started, said Baker County volunteer Fire Chief Richard Dolan.