Residents evacuated in Florida as wildfires threaten homes

May 29, 2000
Web posted at: 5:14 a.m. EDT (0914 GMT)

In this story: No injuries reported Osceola County fire not contained RELATED STORIES, SITES

ORLANDO, Florida (CNN) -- Several wildfires raged Sunday night in three counties around Orlando, forcing the evacuation of some residents.

A spokeswoman for the Volusia County Sheriff's Office said residents of Cove Estates near Osteen were evacuated after flames scorched 100 acres, but she did not know how many people were affected by that order.

	MESSAGE BOARD
Nature's wrath

A blaze called the Ranchette Fire by county officials burned 45 acres but threatened no homes. Authorities said the fire was sparked by a lawn mower.

Still another fire, this one in Piney Woods, destroyed at least five structures, including three mobile homes and two barns, and burned 50 acres, according to a spokesman for Volusia County Community Information.

No injuries reported

Officials said no injuries have been reported. Crews from the Daytona Fire Department, the Seminole County Fire Department and the Department of Forestry worked to extinguish the flames. Helicopters dropped water on the fires from above.

In Osceola County, a wildfire that scorched 300 acres seven miles east of St. Cloud destroyed "many" homes, according to John Koehler, a spokesman for the Florida Division of Forestry.

At least 150 people were voluntarily evacuated Sunday evening because of the blaze, said a spokeswoman for the Osceola County Fire and Rescue. One shelter was opened, she said.

Osceola County fire not contained

Koehler said that fire, which began Sunday afternoon around 3 p.m., was out of control. He had no information on what started the fire.

Another fire burned near the small town of Bithlo, in Orange County. At least 120 acres had burned by Sunday afternoon in the area, which is not heavily populated. This fire began around 5 p.m., Koehler said.

And four miles from Sea World, a wildfire burned 70 acres into a swamp, but was no threat to the marine life adventure park or homes in the area. That fire also was reported around 5 p.m.

Koehler said officials did not know the causes of any of the fires as of Sunday night. Their first priority is to put them out and protect residents and structures, he said.

Wildfires threaten hundreds of homes in Southern California
December 22, 1999
Firefighters gaining control of blaze that charred 26,000 acres
October 18, 1999
Flames consume 90,000 acres of Florida Everglades
April 19, 1999

Florida Division of Forestry
Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
National Interagency Fire Center

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window

External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.