Several new wildfires broke out across central Florida this week. A 7,500 acre fire blazed in the Florida Keys. The fire closed an 18-mile stretch of U.S. 1. Gusty winds blew the flames towards the Everglades.
Firefighters suspect the blaze began from a campfire.
A Charlotte County fire scorched 1,700 acres and forced about 100 families to evacuate. More than fifty other smaller fires were reported in the state. Meanwhile, the 6,000 acre blaze in Sarasota County was finally brought under control this week. Drought-stricken Florida is having one of its worst fire seasons on record. Firefighters have battled more than 2,000 blazes that have destroyed 170,000 acres.