JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department on Saturday responded to a brush fire on Old Gainesville Road that threatened nearby structures, including a grocery store.
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The brush fire caused a lot of smoke behind the Publix near the woods. A video sent in by a viewer shows how thick the smoke was and how fast it spread due to the dry weather conditions and high wind.
The Florida Forest Service said the fire spread to five acres and got close to nearby shops, including a Publix, causing concern for shoppers.
“It’s not uncommon to see smoke coming from the Baldwin area because it’s so woodsy out there, but it’s really weird to see it over here,” Sheryl Patterson-Coulibaly said. “In all my years of living in this area, I never seen a brush fire over here, and to see it so close to the buildings, it’s kind of scary.”
Another shopper said she wasn’t concerned, but she was curious about what was happening.
“I think that curiosity would have turned to fear and we would have drove in a whole other direction rather than just switch restaurants if I saw flames, but seeing smoke, I knew the fire crews had it under control,” Keith Morreira said.
The dry conditions and drought continue to be the leading factors in these fast-moving fires. Robert Chase of the Florida Forest Service said with this much fire activity and warnings, fire crews remain ready.
“We’ll continue to have our crews out there improving those containment lines the rest of the day and we’ll continue to monitor that fire activity, putting out any hotspots that they see,” Chase said.
While the weather does play a factor, people play a critical role in starting wildfires and preventing them.
“We’re trying to deter folks from any outdoor burning activities, especially with the elevated fire danger level that we do have with the dry fuels that are around...” Chase said.