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Firefighters Bringing Hudson Brush Fire Under Control

News Channel 8 image by DAVID KRAUT

Because the wildfire is in a dry swamp, smoke is expected to linger in the area for days or weeks.

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By RAY REYES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 23, 2009

Updated: 02/23/2009 11:26 pm

A 50-acre brush fire west of Hudson has nearly burned itself out and a voluntary evacuation of the Veranda subdivision has been lifted, state forestry official say.

The slow-moving fire near State Road 52 and Moon Lake Road is about 90 percent contained, said Dave Fogler, area supervisor for the state Division of Forestry.

About 20 residents who evacuated earlier Monday can now return home, he said.

No homes were damaged when the fire grew from 25 to 50 acres in a dry cypress swamp that abuts the subdivision. The fire started as four small blazes in different areas and the cause has been ruled suspicious, Fogler said.

Pasco County Fire Rescue crews are expected to remain at the scene for several more hours and forestry officials will return in the morning, authorities say.

The day of brush fires left a smoky smell through much of the Tampa Bay area.

The thick smoke blanketing the subdivision and surrounding areas slowed the return of residents to their houses, Forestry spokesman Don Ruth said.

Flames from the fire had crept close to the back porches of some houses, and firefighters sprayed water on homes and rooftops as a preventive measure.

Because the wildfire is in a dry swamp, smoke is expected to linger in the area for days or weeks, Fogler said.

Officials have requested electronic signs that will be posted on S.R. 52 warning motorists of the smoke. Once the wildfire is extinguished, state forestry crews plan on flooding the swamp to eradicate the smoke, Fogler said.

Several fire crews were rerouted Monday evening to an area near the Zephyrhills airport, where a 20-acre wildfire was burning in a remote wetlands area owned by the Southwest Florida Water Management District, Ruth said.

Florida is in the midst of an unusually active fire season, and so far, Pasco County appears to be a hotbed for brush fires. On Wednesday, crews battled an 80-acre wildfire that threatened the Beacon Square community in Holiday and forced the evacuation of 25 homes.

The same day, more crews were dispatched to a swampy area near State Road 52 in San Antonio, where a brush fire quickly grew from 5 to 100 acres.

The dry season ends about when hurricane season starts.

"It's going to be a long spring," Fogler said.

Reporter Ray Reyes can be reached at (813) 259-7920.

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