JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Heavy smoke from a large brush fire burning on Jacksonville’s Southside could be seen from miles away on Sunday afternoon.
It’s unclear how the fire on S. Kernan Blvd. started, but could have been sparked by recent lightning, according to Florida Forest Service Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Annaleasa Winter.
Winter said there may actually be two separate fires burning and the affected area is 65 acres. Just before 4:30 p.m., FFS tweeted that the fire is 100 percent contained.
Pine Plantation fire East of 295 and South of Butler is 100% contained at 65 acres
— FFS Jacksonville (@FFS_Jax) March 6, 2016
Just before 4 p.m., FFS tweeted that no homes were threatened.
FFS fighting a 50-acre wildfire on Jax south side. Private Property, 3 tractors, 50% contained -no homes threatened pic.twitter.com/7fSdN0XAgQ
— FFS Jacksonville (@FFS_Jax) March 6, 2016
Forestry officials sent in heavy equipment to help the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department contain the fire, which is located on private property.
Three FFS tractors were dispatched and a land manager responded to the scene.
All of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia are under an elevated fire danger due to low humidity and 10-15 mph winds.
BREAKING: A brush fire on S. Kernan Blvd is jumping existing fire lanes. @JFRDIncidents says more man power needed. pic.twitter.com/ksImfaHhvy
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
You can see it from a distance - SMOKE. @JFRDIncidents tells @ActionNewsJax more personnel is needed to combat fire pic.twitter.com/tHPssO9IEY
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: Firefighters are battling a massive brush fire near S. Kernan Blvd. @ActionNewsJax @JFRDIncidents pic.twitter.com/4ua8fYiTiF
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: Jax Fire & Rescue on scene of out of control brush fire. @ActionNewsJax @JFRDIncidents pic.twitter.com/Tyt7QYCzaG
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: Lots of smoke near the area of S. Kernan Blvd. You can see the smoke from miles away. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/unj3vrzMIz
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: @JFRDIncidents tells @ActionNewsJax they've asked for additional brush trucks & forestry units to assist. pic.twitter.com/ZBDcWesGpo
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: Firefighters are trying to put out this fire that's behind homes off of Baymeadows Rd. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/92YR65SmmN
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Our First Alert WX team tells me there's an elevated fire danger today. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/Z4tYHLWYuj
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Another fire truck just arrived on scene to assist with the fire near S. Kernan Blvd. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/CFcBaRfVAC
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Our First Alert WX team tells me the smoke plume is showing signs of moving S/SW as sea breeze moves inland. pic.twitter.com/4TuJfmMouB
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
It appears there might be TWO fires near S. Kernan Blvd. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/UuAl8cglCU
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
This forest fire is causing more first responders to come on scene. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/SUme9AlqVm
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
A 2,500 gallon portable tanker just arrived on scene to help put out forest fire. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/v2rZBncbUi
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Firefighters tell me this tanker is like a portable hydrant. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/BlTEEM9nE5
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
More first responders are going down this wooded path to assess this forest fire. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/MGgz7PpAZr
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Firefighters tell @ActionNewsJax they were called out around 12:50 for this forest fire. pic.twitter.com/wAjO1FAPr7
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
The black smoke continues to billow in the air. You can see this fire from miles away. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/wcx3tPsrk8
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
This forest fire is SPREADING rapidly. Check out this video from our drive on I-295. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/CyaJVDdGOB
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Firefighters tell me there are 5 brush trucks, 1 tanker and multiple fire trucks on scene. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/aXRwrPDpa2
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
A tanker holds 2,500 gallons of water. Each brush truck can carry 200 gallons of water. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/RDh0mmDsJs
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
BREAKING: Firefighters tell me the Class A foam they're using is 10x more powerful than water. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/SIkEoa6WuG
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
A helicopter just landed on a grassy patch at the intersection of Gate Pkwy & Baymeadows E. @ActionNewsJax pic.twitter.com/fuAr0kphUG
— Kaitlyn Chana (@KaitlynChana) March 6, 2016
Cox Media Group