AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A wildfire that was dry and gust-inducing winds in several southern states on Thursday forced Texas to evacuate Florida officials to close parts of the main highways during High Gear spring break.
A wildfire in the Sam Houston National Forest near Houston has prompted evacuation of around 900 homes and closing schools. The National Weather Service issued a fire warning that has been promoted around the fourth largest city in the country.
The fire burned about 3.7 square miles (9.6 square kilometers) and was locked up at just 20% on Thursday afternoon as firefighters dig containment lines using hot spots and bulldozers using water-carrying helicopters.
Investigators believed the fire was launched Wednesday by what appears to be controlled burns on private property, said Josh Mizrany, Chief Law Enforcement Aide for Texas A&M Forest Services.
Investigators could investigate how the fire spread and hand over the evidence to local prosecutors if necessary.
Authorities did not report widespread damage or injuries. Montgomery County officials said they knew one house burned on the ground.
The Cleveland Independent School District, which has around 12,000 students, canceled classes as a precaution.
Florida fire
In Florida Key, a massive brush fire that began Tuesday caused authorities to close two roads in and out of the island’s chain due to smoky conditions, allowing firefighters to move equipment.
Authorities said the fire burned about 34 square miles (88 square kilometers) and about 20% were trapped.
Spring break is in full swing in Florida, and officials said US1, the main avenue connecting the mainland to the islands, is expected to cause intermittent closures in the coming days. It is also a great journey for people who live on the mainland and work in many hotels and restaurants such as Key Largo.
Arkansas Flame
In Arkansas, crews were fueled by strong winds on Wednesday and responded to more than 100 fires that were handling five new fires on Thursday.
The fire has closed several highways, including part of the interstate 530 southeast of Little Rock due to heavy smoke.
Damaged structures in several cities, including Little Rock. The roof is a 115-year-old building in North Little Rock, which once served as an orphanage, collapsed at St. Joseph, the home of a nonprofit organization that provides urban agricultural resources.
What caused the fire?
The South has experienced recent cold and dry conditions, followed by wind.
In Texas, fire risks are found from the Far Northern Panhandle, where vegetation on the ground freezes and drys, pushing it hundreds of miles east to the coast.
South Florida has seen every little rainfall over the past few weeks. The rainy season does not begin until mid-May. Meteorologist Donal Harrigan at Miami’s National Weather Service is expected to push South Florida on Thursday night to another cold dry front.
Red flag warning
The Meteorological Bureau issued a Red Flag warning about fire conditions in East Texas and South Florida, allowing them to be extended for several days.
Red Flag warnings will be issued by the National Weather Service if the fire is ripe. In southeastern Texas, weather department officials predicted wind gusts of 25 mph (40 kph) and thought the humidity was low as 18%. The combination keeps the vegetation dry.
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Furisaro reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and DeMiro reported from Little Rock, Arkansas.
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