JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department said it is working a permitted brush pile burn on cleared land that got out of hand due to wind.
The fire is south of POW/MIA Memorial Parkway between Chaffee Road and State Road 23.
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The Florida Forest Service is plowing lines around the embers, and no homes are threatened at this time.
Approximately 13 acres have been affected by the fire. Crews will continue to put water on hot spots and this area will continue to smolder through the night, JFRD said.
The Florida Highway Patrol will monitor streets affected by smoke.
Kolu Jennings lives directly across from the brush fire.
“My house is right there, so I’m a little concerned,” Jennings said.
JFRD said the fire started when a permitted burn of brush piles was picked up by wind. Jennings said those winds carried heavy smoke into Jennings' neighborhood and blanketed homes.
“I was sitting out there in the backyard with my kids, and then my husband told us to get inside because it was getting very heavy and bad,” Jennings said.
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Elevated wildfire conditions in week ahead
The National Weather Service took to social media to warn people about low ground moisture, hot weather and dry conditions.
The Action News Jax First Alert Weather team said this will elevate conditions for wildfires in the week ahead across our viewing area.
We told you Tuesday when FFS firefighters battled a wildfire in Tillie Fowler. Smoke could be seen for miles.
The NWS is reminding people to be cautious of potential ignition sources like fireworks, campsites, cookouts and cigarettes.
#NOW: @JFRDJAX tells me they’re working a permitted brush pile burn on cleared land that got out of hand due to wind.
— Ryan Nelson (@RyanANJax) May 19, 2019
Near Chaffee Road/POW-MIA Memorial. @FFS_Jax is plowing lines around the embers. No homes threatened. @ActionNewsJax @WOKVNews pic.twitter.com/1QiIw4TDGq
Crews are working a brush fire in the area of Chaffee Rd and POW-MIA Memorial parkway....be careful of smoke and our crews in the area.
— MyJFRD (@JFRDJAX) May 19, 2019
Cox Media Group