OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A brush fire that sent thick black smoke into the sky over Osceola County is now under control, but not before prompting precautionary evacuations near Intercession City.
What You Need To Know
A brush fire broke out near Avenue A and South Poinciana Boulevard in unincorporated Osceola County
Thick smoke visible for miles, including from Disney’s sports complex
A nearby truck lot and commercial properties evacuated as a precaution
No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation
The fire broke out Sunday in an unincorporated area filled with homes and businesses near Avenue A and South Poinciana Boulevard. Windy and dry conditions raised concerns as flames spread.
“With the high winds and the dry conditions today, these wildfire conditions can change very rapidly,” said Joshua Holder, public information officer for Osceola County Fire Rescue.
Fire crews from multiple agencies battled the blaze, which forced evacuations at a nearby truck lot and several commercial properties.
Drivers were urged to avoid the area as heavy smoke limited visibility into the evening hours.
Jeffrey Smith said he and a friend had just gotten off work when they drove down Avenue A and encountered barricades.
“Everything was blocked off. No,” Smith said. “They evacuated all the nearby businesses and stuff like that.”
The 19-year-old lives in a neighborhood close to where the thick smoke was rising and immediately checked on his family.
“My neighborhood is the next neighborhood over, so it’s pushing back that way. So pretty close. If it keeps going like that,” he said.
Fire officials said they believe much of the smoke was coming from a commercial nursery that caught fire.
The name of the business has not been released.
The smoke plume could be seen for miles — even from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, where a game was underway.
“A structural exposure for that commercial nursery area. The fire’s getting up near there. We’ve issued some precautionary evacuations to the immediate surrounding nearby structures,” Holder said.
Fire officials said there were no reported injuries.
The full extent of the damage may not be known until Monday, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.