A smoky brush fire in Middleburg sent a haze across the County Road 218 corridor Monday afternoon, triggering an evacuation warning and a quick response from Clay County Fire Rescue and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office.
The blaze was reported in a wooded patch between Currant Avenue and Maluke Lane, just north of County Road 218, where thick vegetation and scattered homes make firefighters nervous when conditions are dry. Sheriff Michelle Cook urged people nearby to stay alert and be ready to leave if the situation worsens.
According to News4JAX, first responders were on scene Monday and the sheriff’s office described the fire as a developing incident. Officials shared location details and told residents to closely follow any instructions from deputies and firefighters.
Where Crews Are Working
The fire is burning in and around wooded lots north of County Road 218, an area where a brush blaze can move quickly when the weather is dry and winds pick up. The county’s fire-rescue information notes ongoing investments in stations and equipment to better tackle wildland and brush fires, and those resources were called into action Monday as crews worked to keep the flames in check. As outlined by Clay County Fire Rescue, the department has been expanding coverage for rural stretches like the CR 218 corridor…