PAISLEY, Fla. -- A fast-moving 1,000-acre wildfire that threatened to cut off hundreds of families from help as it burned around a community was 20 percent contained early Thursday.

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IMAGES: Wildfire Forces Evacuations

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"There is nothing you can do but just pray for Deerhaven," a homeowner said as she evacuated her home. "It is bad. It looks like hell all the way around it."

Mandatory evacuations of the Deerhaven community began Wednesday afternoon as flames jumped around a wooded area and sparked new fires.

"There are dry conditions in the area and the fire is moving rapidly to the east toward the St. Johns River," Lake County Public Information Officer Chris Patton said. "What we want to do is evacuate those residents because there is a threat that they could be cut off."

The wildfire, which originated near the intersection of Jane Lane and county Road 42, is burning east toward Deerhaven Road. Officials have closed county Road 42 in the area.

"It is very windy, and those fires are jumping and starting new fires in different areas," Sprung said.

Residents of the Deerhaven community are being taken to the First Baptist Church of Paisley, located at 25145 Fishermans Road.

Fire officials said the homes are not in danger, but the community could be shut off from county Road 42 as the fire approaches Deerhaven Road.

Firefighters from 25 units are battling the fire, estimated at about 50 acres, near Lake Kathryn in an unincorporated community of Lake County.

There were 31 evacuees at First Baptist Church of Paisley overnight.

A cause of the fire was not known.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.