Barefoot Bay Brush Fire

(Barefoot Bay, Fla) - Brevard County Fire Rescue (BCFR) responded to the area of Honeysuckle Drive in Barefoot Bay for a brush fire.  Upon arrival, crews found a vehicle fire has apparently started a significant brush fire.  The vehicle fire started near the north end of Honeysuckle Dr and caused the 500-foot-wide brush fire to move southwest, towards Wagon Master Trail.  It quickly grew to an estimated 40+ acres, but that was only an initial estimate.

Additional resources were called because of the possibility of structural endangerment.  If the fire continued southwest, 3 homes and 4 occupied stables would have been threatened.  At 6:01 p.m., however, only one structure was endangered.

Because of the size of the fire and limited access, assistance was requested from the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

A resource staging area has been established at Wagon Master Trail and Fleming Grant Road.  The resources were as follows: 9 engines, 3 District Chiefs, 4 water tenders, 11 brush trucks, 2 "dozers" from Florida Forest Service, Brevard County Sheriff Office and several Command Staff Chiefs.

Mutual aid was requested from the following agencies: Palm Bay, Malabar Volunteer Fire, Melbourne, Indian River County, Four Communities Volunteer Fire and Mims Volunteer Fire.

The weather extended its hand in assistance shortly before 7:30 p.m. and allowed the Incident Commander to release most of the resources.

Expect smoldering spots and smoke to remain in the area, but the immediate threat has subsided (7:29 p.m.).

By: Lieutenant Don Slayman

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