Update: Brooker Creek Fires Contained

Firefighters have contained two wildfires in the Brooker Creek Preserve, according to Florida Forest Services.

The first fire, which was named the "Blackwater Fire" broke out at about 12:40 Friday afternoon. Lightning is believed to have caused the blaze, which is off of Pine Needle Path.

A second fire, which was named the "Diagonal Powerline Fire" broke out around 1:22 Saturday afternoon. At one point, a powerline in the preserve caught fire. Smoke from the wildfire was visible to residents in the Ridgemoor community, which backs up to the preserve. 

Florida Forest Services Duty Officer Stokes says around 6:45pm Saturday, the "Diagonal Powerline Fire" was contained and the probable cause was thought to be lightning. However, a half hour later, another 20' by 20' area was burning. Stokes described the small blaze as suspicious in nature because the cause is not known.

The Fire Danger Index in Pinellas County is High, according to the Florida Forest Service.

The Florida Forest Service is encouraging citizens to follow several fire safety tips for safe celebrating over the holiday weekend:

• Dispose of charcoal briquettes properly
• Use dedicated campfire rings where possible
• Clear vegetation and dry debris down to bare soil within 10 feet around your campfire
• Never leave a fire unattended
• Make sure a fire is dead out before leaving
• Take care when operating equipment such as lawn mowers, tractors, chainsaws, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) as any spark can start a wildfire under the current conditions.
• Avoid parking cars in areas with tall grasses. A hot catalytic converter can easily ignite dry grass and debris.
• Report wildfires by calling 9-1-1 or a local Florida Forest Service office.

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