BRUSH FIRE IN EASTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY

A BRUSH FIRE IN EASTERN CHARLOTTE COUNTY HAS CONSUMED NEARLY 130 ACRES.  STRUCTURES WERE THREATENED IN THE AREA OF BERMONT ROAD AND STATE ROAD 31, BUT FIREFIGHTERS WERE ABLE TO KEEP THE BLAZE AWAY AND BOTH ROADS OPENED WITH THE HELP OF 36 BAMBI BUCKET DROPS FROM THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE HELICOPTER.  HIGH WINDS UP TO 25 MILES PER HOUR FANNED THE FIRE WHICH BROKE OUT JUST BEFORE NOON YESTERDAY, AND FIRE OFFICIALS SAY IT’S NOW 90% CONTAINED.  THE CHARLOTTE COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN RED CROSS ASSISTED IN REHAB OF THE FIREFIGHTERS FROM CHARLOTTE COUNTY, THE DIVISION OF FORESTRY, AND OTHER LOCAL AGENCIES THAT WERE CALLED IN TO HELP.  OFFICIALS SAY THEY HAVE YET TO FIND WHAT STARTED THE BLAZE.