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I-75 Reopens As Crews Continue To Fight Bay Area Brush Fires

Photo by Andrew Patron

Rebekah Brant, of the Florida Division of Forestry, says the Oldsmar fire is near Higgins Power Plant.

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TBO.com

Published: March 22, 2009

TAMPA - Firefighters continued to battle brush fires around the Tampa Bay area Sunday, while others have been contained.

A 60-acre blaze in Oldsmar and a second one near Balm in southeast Hillsborough County are both contained and no structures were damaged, officials said.

Meanwhile, a 780-acre wildfire in Sarasota County is 100 percent contained and Interstate 75 is back open this morning. The fire forced officials to close the interstate in both directions Saturday.

In Polk County, firefighters are fighting a brush fire near Bradley in southwest Polk County. The 150-acre blaze had been spreading quickly because of dry conditions and brisk winds, officials said.

No homes or structures are threatened by the fire. Polk County sheriff's deputies re-opened State Road 630 east of State Road 37.

In Sarasota County, about 60 firefighters were battling a blaze just south of the Carlton Preserve in the area of South Moon Drive and Border Road. The fire started around 4:18 p.m., Saturday, according to Sarasota fire officials.

The fire in Oldsmar was in Mobbly Park on the Pinellas County side, according to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office. Authorities believe the fire may have been started by youths shooting off fireworks.
Rebekah Brant, a duty officer with the Florida Division of Forestry, said the fire near Higgins Power Plant sent smoke into the air for hours late Saturday afternoon.

"We're having problems with the fire spotting," Brant said. "That's when the wind catches pieces and carries it ahead of the firefighters."

Firefighters did manage to dig a firebreak on the south side of the fire, where it was spreading, she said.

The fire reportedly burned within 200 yards of some homes north of the park, but no homes were damaged, Pinellas County deputies said. There were no reported injuries.

Deputies are investigating eyewitness reports that the fire may have been started by youths setting off or playing with fireworks. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff's office at (727) 582-6200, or to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-873-TIPS.

The Balm blaze torched about 15 acres, Brant said. It was in an isolated area about four miles west of Plant City-Picnic Road, between County Roads 674 and 672, she said.

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