POSTED: 6:15 pm EDT May 11, 2008
UPDATED: 10:29 pm EDT May 11, 2008
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- A growing brush fire prompted authorities in Volusia County to order an evacuation of 600 homes near Daytona Beach on Sunday.
Officials said the LPGA community west of LPGA Boulevard is under a mandatory evacuation order, and the Bayberry Lakes subdivision on the east side of LPGA Boulevard is under a voluntary evacuation.
The brush fire is grown to cover more than 500 acres and 500 families were told to leave their homes."This fire is dangerously close to houses in the subdivision around the LPGA Country Club ... LPGA Boulevard is shut down in this area. The ramp from I-95 southbound to LPGA is also shut down," Chopper 2 pilot Dan McCarthy said.
The Division of Forestry dispatched airplanes and helicopters to battle the brush fire, and fire engines and brush trucks were also assisting in the battle, but gusty winds hampered the firefighting effort.
"We've seen the fire come within 25 to 30 feet of some of these houses. We can't tell if the houses have caught on fire. The smoke and the winds keep shifting, pushing the smoke toward us," McCarthy said.
Authorities said they hoped to establish a fire line at LPGA Boulevard, but the fire jumped the line late Sunday evening. It also jumped a small lake earlier in the day.
Police are also preventing residents from entering the area because of the dangerous conditions.
A shelter is open at the Hampton Inn at 1715 W. International Speedway Boulevard for evacuees.
The City of Daytona Beach has established a hot line for evacuated residents at 386-671-5347.
Stay with WESH 2 News and WESH. com for further details.
http://www. wesh. com/news/16233156/detail. html
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