OSTEEN, Fla. Firefighters in south Florida discovered a charred body while extinguishing a brush fire on Sunday. The victim’s gender could not be determined, and it is uncertain whether they were living in the wooded area where the body was found.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue crews were putting out the blaze when they stumbled upon the remains. Officials are investigating the cause of the fire and the death alongside Pompano Beach fire investigators, the state fire marshal, and the Broward County Sheriff’s Office.
In Volusia County, a wildfire near Osteen had burned over 900 acres (360 hectares) as of Sunday. The Florida Forest Service reported that the fire was 90 percent contained. It is possible that the blaze was ignited by the remains of an earlier wildfire, according to Volusia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Scott Smoak.
Central and southern Florida are currently experiencing drought conditions, with driest areas concentrated around Sarasota and Punta Gorda, according to the National Drought Mitigation Center. Outdoor burning of yard debris is prohibited in 13 central and southwest Florida counties as per the Florida Forest Service.
The State Forest Service reported that over 1,100 wildfires have occurred in Florida this year, consuming more than 24,000 acres (9,800 hectares.
A smaller fire in North Port on Saturday briefly prompted the closure of the northbound lanes of Interstate 75. Some residents were evacuated, and although the fire was 80 percent contained by late Saturday, firefighters continued to tackle hotspots throughout the night.
In Martin County, smoke persisted Sunday from a fire ignited on Friday from the remains of an earlier blaze. A helicopter was deployed to assist in extinguishing the fire, which was reportedly 90 percent contained by WPTV-TV.
Derek Craver told WPEC-TV that he was forced to evacuate when the fire threatened his house, bringing with it a sense of panic and urgency. We were sitting in the house and the smoke started getting close,” Mr. Craver recounted. It looked thick. I looked out there and saw flames.
Fortunately, no houses were damaged in the incident, and residents were allowed to return home once firefighters gained control of the situation.