ORLANDO, Fla. – Smoke from a brush fire in Hunters Creek hovered near State Road 417 on Friday morning.
Orange County Fire Rescue responded to the fire at Hunters Vista Boulevard and S.R. 417 on Thursday afternoon. The fire was contained to 50 acres and although homes were threatened, none was damaged.
[PICS: Brush fire ignites]
Around 1 p.m. Thursday, residents along Los Palma Vista Drive called 911 to report that a fire broke out in the woods behind their homes.
As the first fire crews made their way to the fire, calls were coming in from additional homes on other streets reporting that the blaze was spreading fast and threatening their homes.
Firefighters set up hoses in the back yards of the threatened homes to defend them from the fire. About 30 homes along Alavista Drive were evacuated as a precaution.
As 30 mph winds pushed the fire southward, additional crews moved into position to defend State Road 417 and West Creek Elementary School. Crews from the Florida Forest Service moved into position to contain the blaze.
No injuries were reported.
After nearly two hours of aggressive work by more than 40 firefighters, the fire was contained to 50 acres of woodland.
According to fire officials, a resident admitted that he started the fire accidentally while disposing of embers from a bonfire. It's not known if the man will face any charges.
Residents were allowed to return to their homes at 3:30 p.m.