Palm Bay Police briefly blocked off a section of Babcock Street on Tuesday, April 21 as firefighters worked to contain a five-acre brushfire behind a retail store. No property damage was reported.
Smoke could be seen along the Babcock Street corridor rising from near the Habitat for Humanity store about 2 p.m., just north of the Palm Bay Road intersection.
The Brevard County sheriff’s helicopter was also used to conduct water drops in and around the densely wooded area behind the store.
Palm Bay Fire Rescue Assistant Chief John Ringleb said the fire happened in an area with several homeless camps and that the blaze may have been unintentional.
Several firetrucks were seen at the site.
An investigation is underway.
J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. X, formerly known as Twitter: @JDGallop.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Palm Bay brushfire contained near homeless camps, investigation underway
Reporting by J.D. Gallop, Florida Today / Florida Today
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
