POLK COUNTY, Fla. — Evacuation orders have been lifted for homes near the site of a massive brush fire that was sparked days ago.
The 450-acre brush fire threatened eight homes Sunday evening in the area near Nalcrest and Lakeshore, south of Highway 60.
As of 9 a.m. Monday, the fire is about 50 percent contained, estimated at 350-acres.
Florida Forest Service of Lakeland confirm that a lightning strike several days prior in a swampy, wooded area sparked the fire. It wasn't until Sunday morning that it became an issue and potential threat to surrounding home and businesses.
“It had been burning in some muck and when it gets into that it just slowly smolders," said Todd Chlanda, public information officer for the FFS Lakeland post. "We’ve been putting containment lines in and around where the area was and it had burned underneath and when it surfaced it blew over the lines."
Seven bulldozers, two brush trucks, a helicopter, and three single-engine tankers were used Sunday to combat the fire, which jumped over Doherty Road near Leisure Lane, prompting the evacuations.
Eight homes were evacuated as a precaution. By Sunday evening officials lifted the evacuation orders.
No buildings were damaged, officials said.
Chlanda said this season's drier than usual conditions, coupled with lingering debris from Hurricane Irma is expected to make for a particularly troublesome fire season.
“We’ve been preparing for this all year, and with the low humidity, high winds, small fires can get out of hand relatively quickly,' he said. "Lightning strikes can sit and smolder for a couple days before they actually pop up and we see the smoke and get those calls."
Polk County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service personnel continue to monitor the scene and plan to work through the night.
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