OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. \u2014 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.<\/p>\n
What You Need To Know<\/p>\n
A brush fire broke out near Avenue A and South Poinciana Boulevard in unincorporated Osceola County
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Thick smoke visible for miles, including from Disney\u2019s sports complex
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A nearby truck lot and commercial properties evacuated as a precaution
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No injuries were reported, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the high winds and the dry conditions today, these wildfire conditions can change very rapidly,\u201d said Joshua Holder, public information officer for Osceola County Fire Rescue.<\/p>\n
Fire crews from multiple agencies battled the blaze, which forced evacuations at a nearby truck lot and several commercial properties.<\/p>\n
Drivers were urged to avoid the area as heavy smoke limited visibility into the evening hours.<\/p>\n
Jeffrey Smith said he and a friend had just gotten off work when they drove down Avenue A and encountered barricades.<\/p>\n
\u201cEverything was blocked off. No,” Smith said. “They evacuated all the nearby businesses and stuff like that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 19-year-old lives in a neighborhood close to where the thick smoke was rising and immediately checked on his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy neighborhood is the next neighborhood over, so it\u2019s pushing back that way. So pretty close. If it keeps going like that,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Fire officials said they believe much of the smoke was coming from a commercial nursery that caught fire.<\/p>\n
The name of the business has not been released.<\/p>\n
The smoke plume could be seen for miles \u2014 even from the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World, where a game was underway.<\/p>\n
\u201cA structural exposure for that commercial nursery area. The fire\u2019s getting up near there. We\u2019ve issued some precautionary evacuations to the immediate surrounding nearby structures,\u201d Holder said.<\/p>\n
Fire officials said there were no reported injuries.<\/p>\n
The full extent of the damage may not be known until Monday, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation.<\/p>\n
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