SOPCHOPPY, Fla. (WTXL) — Multiple agencies are on the scene of a large brush fire in Wakulla County near Smith Creek Road.
The U.S. Forest Service says the High Hill Fire near Smith Creek Road and S.R. 20 has spread to 300 to 400 acres.
Wakulla Fire Rescue said says hey were called to the scene in the Apalachicola National Forest near Smith Creek Road and Chason Road around 12:10 p.m. on Monday.
They say the U.S. Forest Service is also on scene and has crews working to contain the blaze. Flames are intense with some coming up to 40 feet high.
The U.S. Forest Service says that some homes are being threatened by the fire on the western side of the blaze.
Both Wakulla Fire Rescue, the Florida Highway Patrol and the Tallahassee Fire Department are on scene establishing a fire break to protect the homes along Smith Creek Highway at County Road 375.
Evacuation orders have not been given at this time.
Wakulla Fire Rescue says U.S. Forest Service has a helicopter and three bulldozers out working to extinguish the fire.
A fireline was completed around the west side of the fire to protect residential structures and Wakulla County Fire Rescue is providing structural protection support.
U.S. Forest Service firefighters along with Florida Forest Service firefighters continue to put in firelines and conduct suppression operations to protect structures to the east and south of the wildfire.
There are smoke impacts to visibility on Highway 20 and Smith Creek Road in the vicinity of the wildfire and Florida Highway Patrol is on scene.
People should use caution when driving through the area and turn on their lights.
You can see where the brush fire is on doppler. About 25 miles southwest of Tallahassee. @abc27 https://t.co/YSIU1tSe4K pic.twitter.com/0AnMh3k0Kt
— Dave Vogan (@Dave_WX) May 11, 2020
They say the situation is still fluid. There's no word on how much of the fire is contained.
The Florida Panhandle is under a Red Flag Warning until 8 p.m. A Red Flag Warning means that conditions are favorable to allow the rapid spread of brush fires should they occur.
This is a developing story and we have a reporter heading to the scene. Stay with us for details.
