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Crews battle brush fires
Joneé Lewis reports
NORTH PORT, Fla. - Officials in North Port say roads are reopened after a brush fire created visibility issues along Interstate 75, which forced some road closures.
The exit ramps to Toledo Blade Boulevard were closed as North Port firefighters respond to the brush fire, which is near the Price Boulevard intersection.
Courtesy: City of North Port.
North Port city officials said they evacuated Imagine School, North Port Gymnastics and Building Blox Day as a precaution because of the fire. Children were relocated to Morgan Family Community Center and all were reunited with their families, city officials say.
According to the Florida Forest Service, it was a 75-acre brush fire. The City of North Port says while a good portion is under control, crews will be spot checking throughout the evening.
Courtesy: City of North Port.
No injuries were reported, and no structures were damaged, according to the city. Troopers are warning drivers in the area to stay alert due to the smoke.
Elsewhere, brush fires also popped up in Hernando County and Collier County. A 100-acre brush fire was reported Friday in the Cemex mines in Brooksville south of U.S. Highway 98.
The view from this FDOT camera in North Port shows smoke rising from a brush fire.
In Golden Gates Estates, Collier County deputies evacuated residents on 18th Avenue NW and Jung Boulevard.
FFS officials said the dry conditions across the state are a cause of the brush fires.