ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Firefighters said high winds and dry conditions could cause brush fires to flare up again Tuesday. On Monday firefighters in Orange and Brevard counties rushed to put out old fires that re-ignited.
Firefighters worked Monday night to contain the fire in Waterford Lakes at the Barrington subdivision. There were some hot spots, but fire officials said the fire is finally out.
Three Orange County fire engines were at the scene overnight to make sure the fire did not flare up again. Firefighters even left a fire hose in a wooded area near the fire in the event the fire did flare up.
The fire was extremely close to homes in the Barrington subdivision in Waterford Lakes. Residents in the Waterford East apartments were evacuated because the flare up started a second fire in the area.
Orange County Fire Rescue used chain saws and axes to get through the wooded area where it all started. The Division of Forestry believes the fire was intentionally set and neighbors believe they know who did it.
“Kids. Because kids ran out of there on Sunday. A kid ran out, ran down Lake Underhill,” said Tracy Hartman, a homeowner.
A brush fire in Brevard County got worse Monday. Residents watched flames as high as 15 feet move towards their Port St. John homes.
“All of a sudden I saw black smoke and it just flared back up in the wind,” said Chris Broadwell, a resident.
The fire smoldered underground in the muck for days and the wind quickly caused it to move across fire lines and spread over 60 acres.
“It’s burning underground. It just has to burn itself out,” added Broadwell.
Fire rescue crews in Brevard County say that will likely take several days. But residents are worried that there’s little room left to spare if the high flames come their way again.

wftv.com