Fire Crews Continue To Battle Pasco County Wildfire

Pasco County Wildfire On S.R. 54 Continues To Spread

Firefighters are still battling a monstrous wildfire off State Road 54 near Gunn Highway in Odessa, said Pasco County officials.

The fire has now scoured more than 70 acres as high winds and temperatures continue to fuel it. Pasco Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service crews have been joined by members of the Florida National Guard to contain the fire.

According to abc action news, officials have utilized bulldozers in an effort to cut fire lines and National Guard Black Hawk helicopters to carry water barrels dashing water on the fire.

At the news conference held today officials said containing this fire has been hard due to the contribution of crown fires, which are fires that start at the top of a tree and then spreads to another, per abc action news.

Photo: Howard Altman | Times

As of now bikers and hikers at the Starkey Wilderness Park are asked to evacuate as a precaution. No homes have been evacuated at this time, but residents are asked to avoid the area.

The wildfire comes at a severe dry time for the state of Florida. There are more than 100 active wildfires across the state and burn bans in a handful of counties, including Pasco, Hernando and Hillsborough.