PIERSON -- Volusia County Fire Services responded to four brush fires in West Volusia earlier today sparked by dozens of lightning strikes and were helped in their efforts by a heavy rain storm that moved through the area between 3 and 4 p.m.
The first of the Saturday fires was reported at 10:08 a.m. near the Candice R. Strawn/Lake Dias Park on S.R. 11 north of DeLeon Springs. This fire grew to 5 acres and was contained by 4 p.m. A brush fire that grew to more than 120 acres was reported at 11:21 a.m. near Bell Fountaine Avenue and Carruthers Lane in Pierson, Volusia County spokeswoman Pat Kuehn said.
Volusia County Fire Services was assisted by firefighters from the Division of Forestry, Crescent City and Lake County. This fire did not threaten homes and is 80 percent contained. The most dangerous fire started in the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge shortly after 1 p.m. It grew to 100 acres and jumped the CSX railroad tracks, forcing the closure of the tracks from 3 to 8 p.m. and the temporary evacuation of six homes on Bear Paw Lane.
Firefighters reported the fire was 25 percent contained at 8 p.m. In addition to Volusia County, the Division of Forestry and DeLand Fire Department responded to this fire.
A 2-acre fire reported in the Lake Harney Woods subdivision in southwest Volusia County at 1:51 p.m. is contained. Additionally, the Division of Forestry is working a 10-acre brush fire that burned into a swamp at 1070 Buckles Road, west of Barberville.
"The Division of Forestry and Volusia County Fire Services will monitor the fires through the night," Kuehn said.
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