INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Deputies reopened 66th Avenue after briefly closing the road from swirling smoke caused by a nearby brush fire.
The blaze – less than five acres – was fully contained by 2 p.m., Indian River County Fire Rescue Assistant Chief of Operations Sean Gibbons said. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Fire rescue crews responded to reports of the brush fire at 11:18 a.m. Tuesday on a private property near 66th Avenue, Battalion Chief David Kiernan said. The blaze ignited on an old, overgrown citrus grove that is about 20 acres.
“We were able to stop it from going north,” Gibbons said.
Indian River County Fire Rescue crews still on scene of brush fire near 66th Avenue. Crews are extinguishing smoldering hot spots, IRCFR Battalion Chief David Kiernan said. #VeroNews pic.twitter.com/oiR8Us8EEp
— Nicholas Samuel (@JournalistNickS) February 4, 2020
Firefighters were working to extinguish smoldering spots shortly after 2:30 p.m. Deputies closed 66th Avenue between 69th and 73rd streets because the smoke created a traffic hazard, Kiernan said.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY INDIAN RIVER COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE
Officials reopened the road about 2 p.m. There were no homes threatened from the fire, Kiernan said.
It was unclear what sparked the blaze. Gibbons said firefighters will be monitoring the area for the next two hours.
After that, fire crews will return periodically to make sure the blaze doesn’t rekindle, Gibbons said. No further details were immediately available.
Photos by Nick Samuel
