PORT RICHEY, Fla. — Fire officials say there is "no threat" to people or homes from a brush fire in Port Richey that spread across nearly 20 acres. However, residents and drivers in the area may still see smoke billowing from the remnants of the blaze.
According to Port Richey Fire Chief Gary Policastri, the fire started around 7 p.m. Wednesday in the area of Mercado Drive and Old Post Road off of U.S. Highway 19. The cause of the blaze isn't known at this time.
When Port Richey Fire Rescue crews responded, they reportedly found the fire deep-seated in the woods and had a hard time accessing it. They called in reinforcements from Pasco County and New Port Richey fire departments.
A total of 20 units and more than 34 firefighters worked through the night and into the morning to contain the fire, which spanned about 20 acres.
Just before 8 a.m. Thursday, fire officials said the fire was about 90% contained. Crews were able to do a "back burn" to control the fire because weather conditions were just right, the fire service said.
Forestry and Port Richey firefighters will stay in the area to keep an eye on the fire, the sheriff said.
No homes or buildings have been damaged, but the smoke and affected area do butt up to the back of several homes. This is near the Avila Bay Townhomes, according to Google Maps.
No injuries have been reported either.
Drivers in the area may see smoke during their commute. Additionally, Policastri urges drivers to use caution in the area because there will still be times when heavy smoke will blow across "our busy streets."
And, people in the area may still have small pockets of flames in the burned area for a while, but officials say it's nothing to worry about.
"There is no current threat to the public and residents can expect to see small spot fires and small pockets of flame within the burned area for quite some time," Policastri said in the update.