The Brief
- Central Florida officials are cracking down on homeless camps amid a surge in wildfires, some allegedly sparked by camp activity.
- A patrol car fire in Palm Bay and a recent arrest in Orange County highlight rising tensions and safety concerns.
- Leaders are ramping up prevention efforts as nearly 20 wildfires have ignited in just five days.
ORLANDO, Fla. – Local law enforcement agencies are going to homeless camps to make sure they are not setting fires, either accidentally or on purpose.
‘It’s always in the back of our minds’
What we know:
Law enforcement agencies in Central Florida have been stepping up visits to homeless encampments amid growing concerns about wildfires. Authorities say many of the recent fires — nearly 20 in the last five days alone, according to Florida Forestry data — may have originated from these camps, whether due to accidental causes or deliberate acts.
In one recent incident in Palm Bay, a patrol car caught fire while officers were checking a homeless camp on Onyx Drive. The fire forced nearby residents to evacuate. In another case, a homeless woman in Orange County was arrested after a forestry employee allegedly witnessed her setting fires in a wooded area.…