Polk County wildfires burn 900 acres

POLK COUNTY, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay area continues to face dry conditions, Polk County fire crews are working to contain several brush fires Wednesday evening.

Firefighters and the Florida Forest Service are still working to control several brush fires in the Canopy Oaks and Indian Lake Estates areas near Interstates 630 East and 60.

Around 10:30 p.m., three large bushfires were still burning. A 300-acre fire is 40% contained, a 200-acre fire is 80% contained, and the largest fire is 400 acres and 20% contained.

The large bushfires, along with a few smaller ones, burned a total of 900 acres.

A burn ban has been in effect in Polk County since May 28.

Firefighters were called to another fire shortly before 3:30 p.m. on Dummonds Road in Frostproof.

Crews arrived to find a “heavily involved structure” and a bushfire spreading in the surrounding area with “difficult terrain.”

Working with the Frostproof Fire Department, Fort Meade Fire Department and the Florida Forest Service, Polk County firefighters brought the fire under control at 5:51 p.m.

“Despite the challenges, units worked quickly to assess the fire and execute a defensive strategy with water on the structure within three minutes of arrival,” Polk County firefighters wrote.

No injuries were reported.