INDIANTOWN, Fla. — State and local firefighters fought the largest wildfire so far this year in South Florida in Indiantown Thursday.
Flames came dangerously close to homes and buildings, but preparation by those who live and work around there made all the difference.
Area resident David Lewis was down the street, helping a neighbor with the fire occurred.
“(My neighbor) says, ‘Is your wife doing a barbecue today?’ and I say 'No,'” he recalled.
It was a wildfire on the edge of the 55 and over Indianwood development.
“We jumped in, not only me but a bunch of the guys and started getting the older people out of the houses and watered the back of the houses down,” Lewis said.
They had been here before, about eight years ago.
“We had a fire that went all the way around the golf course,” said Robin Hamner, another resident.
So, protection is a point of emphasis. It’s now nationally recognized Firewise Community.
“All trim our bush,” Hamner said.
“I’m always cleaning gutters out,” Lewis said.
Long-term forecasts by NOAA show more rain than usual for Florida
“Our outlook is actually pretty good,” said Trevor Taylor from the Florida Forest Service.
But there’s still heightened risk this time of year.
“Trees take the moisture out of the ground, which you can get a dry day and let the fuel dry out and a fire can happen,” he said.
Thursday’s fire burned 36 and a half acres. All structures were unharmed.
Regardless of the outlook, the Florida Forrest Service will remind if you live near nature, you are at risk for a wildfire.