Voluntary evacuations lifted for Pasco brush fire

MOON LAKE (FOX 13) - Pasco County emergency officials have lifted a voluntary evacuation order for residents in the Moon Lake area.

While there are still 2 separate brush fires burning near SR 52, emergency officials say no homes are in immediate danger.

"The plan for tonight is to patrol and monitor," said John DeWolfe of the Florida Fire Service. "We will come up with another gameplan for morning and get equipment in there."

The Silver Palms fire is close to the Suncoast Lake subdivision where there are about 50 homes.

At one point, the fire was about 300 yards from the nearest home.

"On the back deck, you can actually see the embers from where the fire had been burning," said resident Darren Kelly. "They were landing here."

Residents packed up their things, but we spoke to several who didn't leave because they felt their home was not immediately threatened.

"Still though, it is very scary, I have never seen anything like it," said resident Richard Christie. "This whole area was encompassed with smoke."

The Florida Fire Service has two tractors on scene and report the fire is about 20-percent contained.

The second fire, located in the Starkey Wilderness Preserve, is about 55-percent contained.

The Florida Forest Service, Pasco Fire, Salvation Army, Florida Highway Patrol and Pasco Sheriff's Office say they will keep a full complement of responders on hand throughout the night.

"Worry about the things you can do something about, don't worry about things you can't," said Kelly.

Firefighters say one possible cause are a series of lightning strikes that hit the area several days ago.
They believe the fires smoldered since then.

Firefighters say they will brief the media and public at 9 a.m. Tuesday.