Wildfire closes part of Florida interstate

Smoke rises from a Lakeland, Florida, forest on Sunday

LAKELAND, Florida (CNN) -- Authorities closed down a 10-mile section of Interstate 4 on Sunday as an 8,000-acre wildfire burned out of control in the parched state.

Hundreds of homes were threatened, but none has been reported destroyed. A few sheds and out-buildings have burned, said Lori Stone, duty officer with the Lakeland District of the Florida Division of Forestry. No injuries have been reported.

Some residents have voluntarily left their homes, but no evacuations have been ordered, Stone said.

"We're protecting the homes," she said. She described the fire as erratic, saying it was only 20 percent contained.

"It's jumped an interstate," she said. I-4 is a major thoroughfare between Tampa and Orlando.

Stone said Florida has been under drought conditions for four years. "This year has been particularly dry," she said.

Smaller wildfires were reported in other parts of the state.

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Lakeland District; Florida Division of Forestry

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