35 homes saved from western Flagler County wildfire

35-acre fire west of Bunnell 80% contained, Florida Forest Service says

FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – One abandoned structure and a shed were lost, but 35 homes were saved from a 35-acre wildfire west of Bunnell in Flagler County on Friday, the Florida Forest Service said. 

The fire started about 2 p.m. in the area of Cypress and Lemon streets on a 2-acre property, but it quickly grew to about 40 acres total, dotting the area between Mahogany Boulevard to the north and Walnut Avenue to the south and moving west toward Avocado Boulevard, according to forestry officials. 

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At last check, officials said, the fire had diminished to 35 acres and was 80 percent contained. 

"This was an interesting fire this afternoon," said Julie Allen of the Florida Forest Service. "The wind kept pushing the fire. Every time a crew would get ahead of it, the wind would push it out past the containment line. We had a little bit of difficulty getting around it."

Flagler County officials said it's unclear whether the fire began in an abandoned trailer, or if the trailer burned because of the fire, officials said. The source of the fire is under investigation.

The fire forced the partial evacuation  of the Daytona North area, Flagler officials said. Residents were asked to take all necessary precautions to keep their families and properties safe.

Since the houses are spread out, some with vacant lots between, residents were notified individually about evacuating. Adults and children with conditions, such as asthma, were urged to consider evacuating, as smoke can extend far beyond the boundaries of a brush fire.

IMAGES: Crews battle wildfire in western Flagler County

“We are urging residents to take immediate precautions, and prepare the things they might need to take with them if they are asked to leave their homes,” Flagler County Administrator Craig Coffey said.

Allen also stressed that people should always be proactive any time there is a fire -- no matter the size.

"We've been asking residents over the last couple of weeks to get out there and clean up your yard. Make sure you have 30 feet of defensible space between your home and the woods. As long as you're cleaning up your yard, keep dry vegetation away from your structure, you should be good," Allen said. "Make sure your roof is cleaned off. Make sure there's no pine needles or dead leaves hanging around. It only takes one ember to catch that vegetation on top of your roof on fire and that's what could burn your home down."

Crews from Flagler County, Bunnell, Palm Coast and the Florida Forest Service, including one of its strike teams from St. Johns County, were called to battle the blaze. The Flagler County FireFlight helicopter dropped 52 buckets of water on the fire.