Firefighters contain 10-acre Flagler Estates brush fire

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Firefighters got a quick handle on a 10-acre brush fire Monday in the Flagler Estates area of St. Johns County.

The fire started around 1 p.m., and within an hour, Florida Forestry Service and St. Johns County fire crews had it 40 percent contained.

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Two structures were briefly threatened, but 20 water drops by a helicopter helped contain the flames.

One out-building was damaged by flames.

Putnam: 'No end in sight' to wildfires

Nearly 125 wildfires were active in the state on Monday, and the dry conditions are expected to continue into the early summer, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said.

“Florida is in the middle of its worst wildfire season in years -- with no end in sight,” Putnam said in a prepared statement. “With such an active wildfire season and much of Florida experiencing significant drought conditions, residents and visitors should take every precaution to help prevent wildfire.”

Gov. Rick Scott on April 11 declared a state of emergency across Florida due to the increased wildfires, a move intended to make it easier for agencies to share firefighting resources.

Since the start of the year, there have been more than 2,000 wildfires in Florida, burning more than 150,000 acres.

 

The News Service of Florida contributed to this report.