Florida declares emergency as wildfires spread
Governor Jeb Bush has called in the Florida National Guard to help fight wildfires that have scorched thousands of acres and blanketed highways with thick smoke, contributing to collisions that have killed four people.
Portions of Interstate 95 were scheduled to be shut down early today in Brevard and Volusia counties, where brush fires have consumed more than 8,000 acres.
Officials are tracking about 50 active wildfires throughout the water-parched state, and Bush said lightning was probably not to blame for most blazes.
“The likelihood is most of these fires have been created by either negligence or people doing harm,” Bush said.
The governor declared a state of emergency last night, deploying aviation units from the Florida National Guard, and met some of the 155 firefighters working to contain a fire in New Smyrna Beach that has consumed about 1,300 acres since Sunday and destroyed three homes.
About 1,000 residents were ordered to evacuate on Sunday in New Smyrna Beach as the fire approached their homes.
