PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — Palm Beach County Fire Rescue crews contained a 10-acre brush fire in the Loxahatchee area that developed Monday afternoon as Boca Raton firefighters remain at the scene of a brush fire near the Costco that began Thursday morning.
At 3:20 p.m., county firefighters were dispatched to the 3400 block of 185th Trail.
Units found an approximate 10-acre lot with land being cleared, and about 3 acres were on fire, Capt. Tom Reyes said.
The fire was being driven that way by gusty winds, and jumped the canal starting a small fire very close to the houses, Reyes said.
Palm Beach County Fire Rescue increased the response to 16 units and positioned some on that western flank where an engine drafted water from the canal and stopped the fires from advancing toward the residences, Reyes said.
No houses were lost and no injuries were reported, Reyes said.
"They have made a good knockdown on the fire, which expanded to approximately 5 acres total," Reyes said. "The company that was clearing the land is using a large excavator to help clear the thick debris and form a fire break. "
Units would be at the scene throughout the next several hours putting out hot spots, he said.
In Boca Raton, firefighters remain at 7400 Congress Ave., conducting backburns to remove underbrush in the area.
The brush fire emerged on Thursday morning, was contained, then emerged again on Friday and rekindled Sunday.
A city fire spokesperson said controlled burns are causing the current smoke columns.
Two lanes for northbound South Congress Avenue were closed.
"Traffic will be backed up, so please avoid the area," the agency said.
The El Rio Trail remains closed in the affected area until further notice.
