Firefighters stress importance of defensible space after Nassau wildfire burns hundreds of acres

NASSAU COUNTY, Fla. — As of Monday night, the devastating Bryceville wildfire was 95 percent contained after destroying two homes and damaging several others in Nassau County.

Firefighters say this could be just the beginning of a busy wildfire season across Northeast Florida.

Nassau County Emergency Management tweeted steps that homeowners can follow to create "defensible space" around their home, whether it's in a rural area or suburb.

LOCAL NEWS: Police called out to Jacksonville hotel nearly 400 times in three years

The first step: Keep gutters and roof clear.

Fire officials say you should also keep your yard mowed and free of dead limbs, leaves and litter in a 30-foot circle around your home so fire crews can get their equipment in to work and save your home.

“They should have a defensible space so we can get an apparatus in, we use brush trucks, many times you have fires encroaching on homes,” Fernandina Beach Fire Chief Ty Silcox said.

Landscaping is also key, from keeping trees planted 10- to 12 feet apart, and tree branches pruned 10 feet above the ground.

TRENDING: Jacksonville woman tried to impregnate woman smuggled from Mexico, fed her only beans

Fire Awareness Week is coming. If you would like someone from the Florida Forest Service in Bunnell to talk to your group or agency about wildfire preparedness, call 386-585-6156.

For more information, click here.

Cox Media Group