1,000 acre fire, 100% contained

FOR LATEST UPDATES READ TWEETS FROM DIVISION OF FORESTRY BELOW

UPDATE:  As of Thursday afternoon The Florida Division of Forestry says the fire in Hobe Sound is 'contained' but not 'controlled.' A forestry spokesperson say it will take substantial rainfall to put the fire out.

EARLIER STORY:

MARTIN COUNTY — What began as two fires spanning 50 acres quickly merged into one fire consuming 1,000 acres north of Bridge Road and west of Powerline Avenue, officials said.

Melissa Yunas, wildfire mitigation specialist with the state Division of Forestry, said the fire had been smoldering for days following a lightning strike. It erupted around noon and spread to a remote wooded area on private property near Atlantic Ridge State Park.

A hunting camp was threatened but Martin County Fire Rescue, with the help of a Division of Forestry helicopter, saved the buildings Yunas said.

Property owner George Linley thought his camp wouldn't be saved.

"I thought the lodge was gone and we had structures around it," says Linley.  "But they, forestry and the fire department got in there, they put a fire line through and they used the hoses and the helicopters and we were very successful."

Shifting winds have made containing the fire a challenge, as of 10:00 p.m., the flames were 100% contained.

Crews are expected to be on scene for some time.

No homes have been threatened.

Smoke could be smelled near I-95 and Kanner Highway late Wednesday night but it wasn't causing any visibility issues. 

Carolyn Scofield and Will Greenlee of tcpalm.com contributed to this report .