DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Evacuations for dozens of homes in Daytona Beach were lifted as crews continue to battle a brush fire off LPGA Boulevard.
Firefighters went door-to-door Monday to evacuate 80 homes on Cyan Avenue in the Mosaic Subdivision after high winds furthered the growth of the Bennet Field Fire. Residents were eventually able to go return to their homes before 9 p.m. Monday.
As of Tuesday afternoon, the fire is 160 acres and 75% contained.
Travis McGowen, operations administrator with the Florida Forest Service, said crews are “feeling pretty good” about firefighting efforts due to the change in weather.
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“The fire weather yesterday was hindering us a little bit. We had the high winds, low humidities, had a red flag warning, and today, the winds have died down a little bit. Humidity starting to come up. So the fire weather’s really helping us out today,“ Travis McGowen, operations administrator with the Florida Forest Service, said during a Tuesday update.
He said wind conditions Tuesday are “becoming very favorable” for crews to “get ahead of this and get it contained.” McGowen said two helicopters were on scene and conducting bucket drops Tuesday morning.
“We have our fire crews, along with Daytona Beach Fire Rescue, working the fire’s edge right now and doing everything we can to completely contain it and get it to 100%,” he said.
Officials with the Daytona Beach Fire Department said the fire was contained earlier Monday, but it reached a heavily wooded swamp area and when the winds shifted, it altered course.
“Right now, it’s moved into a swamp. So for our heavy equipment, it’s a problem. But, prior to that, it was weather. Weather was our biggest issue with the low humidities and high winds. That was our biggest problem,” McGowen said.
Daytona Beach Fire Chief Dru Driscoll said crews from Daytona Beach, Volusia County and the Florida Forest Service worked throughout the day Monday to protect homes. The Forest Service plowed fire lines behind houses, and multiple engines were positioned for structural protection.