{"id":238316,"date":"2026-04-19T23:54:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-19T23:54:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/238316\/"},"modified":"2026-04-19T23:54:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-19T23:54:09","slug":"wildfires-in-alachua-county-prompt-neighborhood-evacuations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/238316\/","title":{"rendered":"Wildfires in Alachua County prompt neighborhood evacuations"},"content":{"rendered":"

A wildfire on North Main Street in Gainesville prompted evacuations in the area and is spreading despite first response efforts. The fire, reported around 2 p.m. Sunday, now spans 60 acres and is 0% contained.\u00a0<\/p>\n

While the fire began on the west side of North Main Street just south of Northeast 53rd Street and north of Northeast 39th Avenue, it jumped to the east side, said Ludie Bond, the Florida Forest Service\u2019s public information officer. The wind, along with extremely dry vegetation, are the primary causes of the fire spread, Bond said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat certainly is a concern,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s still a very active fire at this moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Residents were asked to vacate the area after the fire\u2019s spread grew concerns for the neighborhood, Bond said, but no structures have been damaged or destroyed. The Humane Society of North Central Florida, a Gainesville animal shelter, evacuated<\/a> all animals to foster homes.<\/p>\n

Containment lines \u2014 when fire rescue plows vegetation to expose bare dirt to create a barrier fires can\u2019t burn through \u2014 were drawn, but Bond said they may not hold, because the torching trees in the area are causing embers to leap over them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was a real challenge for us,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s still a challenge, because we\u2019re still out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gainesville Fire Rescue, Alachua County Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service and local police departments, including the Gainesville Police Department, are on the scene, she said. A helicopter was used to drop water and allow eight dozers to surround the area and contain the fire, she said.<\/p>\n

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined, and Bond said there have been several in Alachua County today.<\/p>\n

On North State Road 121, a 5-acre brush fire was reported around 5:30 p.m., and evacuation orders for residents of Eryn\u2019s Garden were issued. A helicopter is now on the scene making water drops, per<\/a> Watch Duty.<\/p>\n

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.<\/p>\n

Contact Maria Arruda at marruda@alligator.org. Follow her on X at @mariazalfarruda.<\/p>\n

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Maria Arruda<\/p>\n

Maria Arruda is a second-year journalism and political science student, currently working as the City Commission reporter for The Alligator. Previously, she reported on Student Government under The Alligator’s University desk. She enjoys running, reading and going to movie theaters!<\/p>\n