A brush fire flared up in a wooded strip behind a business park straddling the border of Pinellas Park and Seminole on Tuesday, pushed along by gusty winds and bone-dry vegetation. Firefighters wrestled with the flames in tricky conditions but stopped the blaze short of nearby businesses and homes. City officials later shared photos and a recap of the response on their official Facebook page.
According to the City of Pinellas Park, crews from Pinellas Park Fire and the City of Seminole Fire attacked the brush fire Tuesday evening in a stand of trees and dry brush behind the business park and kept it from reaching commercial buildings or residential areas. The post noted that shifting winds and plentiful dry fuel such as trees, grass, twigs and leaves made the incident tough to control. It also urged residents to stay cautious, warning that “it does not take much for a fire to take shape.”
Red Flag Warning Raised The Stakes
The National Weather Service in Tampa Bay/Ruskin had already issued a Red Flag Warning for much of west-central Florida on Tuesday, cautioning that critically low humidity, gusty east winds and dry fuels could help fires spread fast, according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay/Ruskin. Forecast details for the warning called for east winds of 10 to 20 miles per hour with gusts up to 30 miles per hour and relative humidity dropping into the low 30s. During Red Flag conditions, officials advise against outdoor burning and say even minor ignition sources can quickly grow into larger fires.
Crews Kept The Blaze From Spreading
Pinellas Park officials credited firefighters from both cities with boxing in the blaze before it could turn into a bigger problem for businesses or nearby neighborhoods, according to the city’s Facebook post. Mutual aid from Seminole helped crews knock down lingering hot spots and secure the perimeter, keeping damage confined to brush and trees behind the business park. The post reported no injuries and no structural damage.
How Residents Can Reduce Risk
Local fire officials and meteorologists are reminding residents to hold off on outdoor burning, watch grills at all times and avoid parking vehicles on tall, dry grass, since hot exhaust systems can ignite vegetation, FOX 13 Tampa Bay reported. Anyone who spots smoke or an active fire is urged to call 911 immediately so brush fire units can get on scene quickly…