Port Richey brush fire under control after coming dangerously close to homes

PORT RICHEY, Fla. - A brush fire in Port Richey was under control by Thursday afternoon after making neighbors nervous as flames spread close to surrounding townhomes and apartments.

SkyFOX aerials showed flames engulfing trees in Port Richey near Old Port Road and Bay Boulevard on Thursday. 

According to the Florida Forestry Service, the fire started off small, likely as a campfire, but spiked overnight. The fire swept across about 20 acres and was under control by about noon.

"They put containment lines around it to protect these condos and homes around the area," said Lela Braunsch, with the Florida Forest Service.

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Firefighters also attempted a burn-out to try to mitigate the fire, which is when they burn an area around the flames to prevent them from spreading beyond that perimeter.

Braunsch said this fire was the latest in a string of brush fires in her region of the Forestry Service. 

"For our district alone, which we cover Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Sumter, and Lake County as well, we're seeing about 10 to 15 fires [in the last couple weeks]," she said. "They're starting with campfires that are getting away or pile burns that folks are doing in their backyards or unauthorized pile burns."

There have also been recent larger brush fires in Hillsborough, Highlands and Hardee Counties that burned hundreds of acres.

Firefighters are urging caution during the current dry conditions. Although counties have not passed burn bans, Forestry Service officials said it's possible if conditions don't improve.

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