80-acre wildfire in Sebastian contained, smoke to be issue

SEBASTIAN — An 80-acre wildfire near the Sebastian Municipal Airport and the Municipal Golf Course that threatened five nearby homes has been 100 percent contained, forestry officials said Tuesday evening. Smoke will continue to limit visibility overnight and into Wednesday morning, according to officials.

The fire, which was reported at around 1 p.m. Tuesday, grew from 10 acres to about 80 acres in a matter of six hours and prompted the evacuation of golfers on the back 9 of the golf course.

A helicopter was brought in to combat the blaze from the air, dropping water on the flames. Indian River County Fire Rescue brought in three engines and three brush trucks, while the Florida Forest Service called in two bulldozers. The bulldozers were used to establish control lines around the fire.

No one was reported injury in combating the wildfire. Power lines are thought to be the cause of the fire.

The area, which consists mostly of palmetto, is prone to wildfires, according to the Forest Service, which is why firebreaks were created months ago behind the homes there.

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