Florida homes evacuated in face of wildfire

NORTH PORT, Florida (CNN) -- At least 30 families were evacuated from this city about 20 miles southeast of Sarasota after a wildfire jumped a highway Wednesday and moved into the area, a state forestry division official said.

The fire in Sarasota County destroyed at least one home earlier in the day as firefighters trying to gain control of the blaze were hampered by high winds. The flames jumped across Interstate 75 to reach North Port in the afternoon, said Florida Division of Forestry duty officer David Pierson.

The fire, which began Tuesday after wind spread a controlled burn in the Carlton Reserve in the southwestern part of the state, has consumed 4,500 acres.

In central Florida, firefighters were also battling several wildfires, including one investigators believe was started by an arsonist along the Kissimmee River in northwest Okeechobee County that has destroyed 16,500 acres.

"One structure was lost, along with two 500-gallon fuel tanks," said Florida Forestry Division spokesman Jim Harrell. An unknown number of hunting shacks were also destroyed, he added. The fire is 75 percent contained.

In the Sarasota fire, seven local and state fire departments comprised of about 80 firefighters were combating the fire along with four air tankers and six helicopters.

Strong winds have been the major problem faced by the firefighters.

"The winds are about 17 miles per hour, moving the fire south of Sarasota County toward Charlotte County," said Jeff Aaron with the Sarasota Fire Department.

He said forecasts indicate the wind might die down to about 8 miles per hour Wednesday night, giving firefighters a chance to get the upper hand.

But Pierson predicted the winds could change direction Thursday, moving the fire back toward I-75.

The controlled burn that started the fire was set, ironically, by a contractor working for the county, Aaron said.

"The conditions were right. There was very little wind. Within about four hours the winds suddenly picked up and started spreading the flames," he said.

A fire destroyed about 6,000 acres in this drought-stricken area 11 months ago.

"You light a match and it starts burning," he said.

In east central Florida, officials suspect arson in a fire that has destroyed 665 acres in Osceola County. About 50 homes had to be evacuated Tuesday in the Bay Lakes Subdivision, Harrell said. None of the homes were damaged, but some outbuildings were destroyed by the fire, which is 70 percent contained.

Firefighters have a 450-acre fire in Marion County 90 percent contained, said Harrell. At least 30 homes were evacuated when the fire began Monday.

In the northwest part of the state another fire has consumed 300 acres in Dixie County near Oldtown, 45 miles west of Gainesville. Harrell said that fire began April 6 when an approved trash fire got out of control. No homes have been damaged and the fire is 80 percent contained.

Harrell said a quarter of the fires in Florida every year are started by arsonists. Twenty percent are started by approved trash fires that get out of control. Lightning starts many fires during the summer rainy season.

Forecasters expect no significant rainfall for at least a week, said Harrell, and he predicted that the weekend could bring more fast-moving fires.

"It's touch and go in the near future," he said, "but forecasters expect better chances of rain in the next six to eight weeks."

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