BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – All lanes of Interstate 95 in Brevard County have reopened after a large brush fire prompted the closure of highway for the second time in two days, Sheriff Wayne Ivey said.
I-95 was closed in both directions from Saint Johns Heritage Parkway to Malabar Road because of visibility concerns from the fire, but the northbound lanes reopened around 4 p.m. while the southbound lanes reopened around 4:45 p.m.
The same stretch of the interstate was closed Sunday due to the fire near JA Bombardier Boulevard and Day Avenue SW, an area known as “The Compound.”
ORIGINAL STORY:
All lanes of Interstate 95 are now open after a large brush fire shut down the highway in both directions Sunday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Palm Bay Fire Rescue officials said they responded around 1:30 p.m. to reports of a brush fire near JA Bombardier Boulevard and Day Avenue SW, an area known as “The Compound.” Shifting winds pushed flames into unburned vegetation, and dry, gusty conditions accelerated the fire’s spread, bringing it close to several homes. Multiple residences were evacuated as a precaution.
Units from Palm Bay Fire Rescue, Brevard County Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, Palm Bay Police Department and Malabar Fire Rescue assisted in the response. The fire burned an estimated 40 to 50 acres of heavily overgrown vacant lots interspersed with homes. No structural damage was initially reported, and officials said the fire was 100% contained by late afternoon.
I-95 was shut down from from Saint John’s Heritage Parkway (mile marker 166) to Malabar Road (mile marker 173), FHP said in a statement, but troopers said around 5:30 p.m. that the northbound lanes have reopened.
The southbound lanes reopened around 10:30 p.m.