Update: The Buffer West Preserve brush fire was fully contained about 5 p.m. Sunday, according to the Florida Forest Service. The blaze at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park was between 1,200 acres to 1,300 acres.
Firefighters will be at the scene over the next several days monitoring the flames, officials said. Motorists driving along County Road 512 near the state park should use caution as they will likely see and smell smoke.
Earlier story:
INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A brush fire that ignited at a state park preserve over the weekend rekindled and burned at least 1,200 acres Sunday, officials said. No threats or hazards were reported from the blaze at St. Sebastian River Preserve State Park, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The Buffer West Fire in Indian River County did have a reignition over the weekend. The fire is currently at 1200 acres and is at 95% containment. We have multiple units on scene. No threats. No hazards.#BUFFERWESTFIRE pic.twitter.com/fVd0olTXGJ
— FFS Okeechobee (@FFS_Okeechobee) July 24, 2022
The blaze, dubbed the Buffer West Fire, was possibly caused by lightning, Indian River County Fire Rescue Assistant Chief David Rattray said. Rattray said there were lightning strikes in the area of the fire on Friday.
Rattray said the blaze reignited about 3 p.m. Saturday. Fire rescue crews and Forest Service officials were working to knock down the flames.
County firefighters have three engines and three brush trucks at the scene, Rattray said. Forest Service has bulldozers plowing around the flames.
The fire was 95 percent contained Sunday, Forest Service officials said. The blaze began at 60 acres Friday in the southwest part of the park located north of County Road 512 and west of Interstate 95.
Day 3 of #BufferFireWest. Media contact @FFS_Okeechobee https://t.co/5RSXHYrrmd pic.twitter.com/NSnpWBowlf
— Fellsmere Police (@FellsmerePD) July 24, 2022
Police said the fire was one mile east of the 13400 block of 113th Street in unincorporated Fellsmere. The state park stretches from southern Brevard County to northern Indian River County.
It was unclear how long firefighters were expected to be in the area.
