(This story was updated with new information.)
DAYTONA BEACH — A fast-moving wildfire grew to 100 acres and forced the evacuation of about 80 homes along streets in the Mosaic subdivision near LPGA Boulevard in Daytona Beach on Monday, Feb. 23, according to officials.
Daytona Beach Fire Department Chief Dru Driscoll said the fire had come within 500 feet of homes in Mosaic.
Residents on Cyan Avenue and Fuchsia Street were asked to evacuate around 4 p.m. By 5:30 p.m. Monday, both streets had been completely evacuated.
Bennett Field Fire near Father Lopez High, Champion Elementary in Daytona
Crews battled the wildfire near the subdivision and west of Champion Elementary School and Father Lopez High School. That fire, named the Bennett Field Fire, had grown from 25 acres earlier in the day to 100 late afternoon. Florida Forest Service personnel continued to work to fully contain the fire, said Camaron Greenlund, Florida Forest Service area supervisor.
The Daytona Beach Fire Department and Volusia County Fire Rescue are also battling the blaze. Flagler County’s Fireflight has been deployed to assist ground crews with aerial water drops, while five bulldozers are operating in the area to support containment efforts, according to a release from the city. Crews are also conducting structure protection operations along Cyan Avenue.
Helicopters could be seen dropping water on the flames Monday afternoon.
The Bennett Field Fire is roughly 2 miles northwest of Father Lopez High School and 1 mile southwest of Champion Elementary School, Greenlund said.
A second wildfire was also reported near the intersection of LPGA and Williamson boulevards on Monday. That brush fire, called the Avalanche Fire, is now 100% contained, Greenlund said.
“No structural endangerment,” Greenlund said when asked if the fires were near buildings.
All of east Central Florida, including Volusia and Flagler counties, was under a Red Flag Warning for fire danger until 7 p.m. Monday, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Daytona wildfire forces evacuation of 80 homes in Mosaic subdivision
Reporting by Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
