I-95 reopens in Volusia County after brush fire closes road, burns 20 vehicles at campground: Officials

Brush fire sparked by vehicle blaze shuts down I-95

A brush fire that began with a vehicle blaze along Interstate 95 forced the temporary closure of the highway in both directions in Volusia County on Sunday, snarling traffic as fans left the nearby speedway.

A brush fire that began with a vehicle blaze along Interstate 95 forced the temporary closure of the highway in both directions in Volusia County on Sunday, snarling traffic as fans left the nearby speedway.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the fire started on the shoulder of I-95 before spreading across the highway. 

Officials said four small brush fires – totaling 10 acres in size – burned in the area.

I-95 closed for hours

Local perspective:

Flames later threatened a neighborhood in Port Orange near Horizon Elementary School.

Fire crews shut down the interstate for several hours as they battled multiple brush fires. All lanes have since reopened, though smoky conditions lingered late into the evening.

"You couldn’t see five feet in front of you," resident Bruce Richardson said. "The flames were 20 or 30 feet tall, and the firemen were getting ready to evacuate everybody."

Richardson and his wife said they first spotted the fire while it was still burning on the other side of a tree line. They called 911 and used a garden hose to try to slow the flames until firefighters arrived.

"It’s a sigh of relief knowing that the community and the homeowners jumped into action as best we could until the fire department kicked in," Richardson said.

Authorities said no injuries were reported, and crews were able to protect nearby homes from damage.

Even with the highway reopened, officials warned drivers to expect heavier-than-normal traffic and reduced visibility due to lingering smoke. The Florida Highway Patrol urged motorists to slow down and use caution.

20 vehicles burned at campground

Officials with Volusia County said in a news release that 20 vehicles were burned at the Crazy Horse Campground, near the Daytona Flea & Farmers Market. The fire burning near the campground and the flea market is "under control." First responders are monitoring conditions in nearby neighborhoods. So far, evacuations are not needed at this time, the county said. 

Use the traffic map towards the end of the article to find the latest traffic conditions.

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