LOXAHATCHEE, Fla. (CBS12) — A brush fire near 20 Mile Bend in Loxahatchee rapidly spread Monday amid dry conditions across western Palm Beach County.
When the Keetch-Byram Drought Index exceeds 650, vegetation—including sugarcane—has very little moisture left. In this dry environment, vegetation essentially becomes fuel.
Firefighters say the weather creates conditions where fires can ignite immediately, spread quickly, and send embers that start spot fires well ahead of the main blaze…