Indian River County brush fire threatens several homes, authorities say

Crews battled a 52-acre brush fire in Indian River County on Wednesday that threatened at least seven structures, including several homes, authorities say.

HOUR.

THE FIRST ALONG THETREASURE COAST... WHERE AN18-WHEELER CARRYING NATURAGAS CAUGHT FIRE.

THE FIRESCENE TIED UP TRAFFIC IN BOTHDIRECTIONS... IN ST LUCIECOUNTY..AROUND MILE MARK147... THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TOGET OUT OF THAT BURNINGTRUCK..

WITHOUT INJURY.TONIGHT TRAFFIC IS STILLSLOWED NORTHBOUND.RIGHT NOW AN INVESTIGATION ISUNDERWAY IN RIVIERA BEACHAFTER POLICE SAY TWO PEOPLEWERE SHOT.

THEY SAY ITHAPPENED TONIGHT AT A HOME ONWEST 12TH COURT.

ACCORDING TOPOLICE, THE VICTIMS WERE BOTHTAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL WITHWHAT'S BEING CALLED "NON-LIFETHREATENING" INJURIES.

NO WORDON IF ANY ARRESTS HAVE BEEMADE.NOW TO TONIGHT'S BIG STORY...THE CLOSE CALL FOR TREASURECOAST HOMEOWNERS.

FLAMESBURNED DANGEROUSLY CLOSE TOSOME HOMES THIS AFTERNOON NEARFELLSMERE.

WHILE THAT FIRESNOW OUT..

THE DANGER IS STILLVERY MUCH A REALITY... WITHOUR WEATHER.

WPTV NEWSCHANNEL5'S DEREK LOWE..

WITH A NEWLOOK AT THE BRUSH FIRE..

AHOW IT START< NATS FROM THE CELL PHONEVIDE* YEAH, WE BETTER MOVE,WE GOTTA GO... CELL PHONEVIDEO TAKEN BY DWAYNE SPRENGERAND HIS SON SHOWS FLAMESMOVING QUICKLY OVER THIS DIRTROAD... JUST OUTSIDE OFFELLSMERE 2803 DWAYNE WE'RE ONTHE ROAD RIGHT BESIDE US,FIRE, TREES ARE GOING UP, WEHAVE TO KIND OF MOVE BECAUSEOF HEAT.

THE FIRE - SPANNING52 ACRES IN SIZE... STARTEDOUT ON 89TH STREET OFF OFCOUNTY ROAD 512..

IN INDIANRIVER COUNTY.

IT'S JUST ONEBLOCK OVER FROM WHERE DWAYLIVES.

2855 DWAYNE WHEN I CAMEIN FROM THE OTHER WAY COMINGTO THE HOUSE, IT WAS UGLY.

ITLOOKED LIKE... I DON'T KNOTHAT BAD.

THE FLORIDA FORESTSERVICE SAYS TODAY'S FLAMESWERE IGNITED BY THIS -- ASMALL CAMPFIRE THAT GOT OUTCONTROL.

4437 DAVID GRUBICH,FOREST AREA SUPERVISOR, FFSTHIS TIME OF YEAR YOU HAVE TOLOOK OUT FOR THE WINDS.

ALSOWE HAVEN'T HAD A DECENT RAININ SUCH A LONG PERIOD.

BRIDGE:EVEN THOUGH THE FIRE IS NOW100% CONTAINED - THE FLORIDAFOREST SERVICE AND THE INDIANRIVER COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT SAYTHEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TOMONITOR THE HOTSPOTS.

2615DWAYNE WE CLEARED EVERYTHINGAND IT'S A LOT SAFER.

BECAUSEI TELL YOU A FIRE COMESTHROUGH LIKE THAT, I THINK INA MATTER OF MINUTES YOUR HOUIS ENGULFED AND THAT'S SCARY.THE FLORIDA FOREST SERVICESAYS 7 HOMES WERE AT ONE TIMETHREATENED... CREATING TENSEMOMENTS FOR THOSE LIVINGNEARBY.

THANKFULLY - F-FSAYS THIS THE FIRE LIKELYWON'T REKINDLE DUE TO THCLEAN INITIAL BURN.

4535 DAVIDTHE BIGGEST THING IS TO BEMINDFUL, IF YOU ARE OUT THEREWITH A CAMP FIRE OR A WARMINFIRE, BE MINDFUL OF THECONDITIONS AROUND YOU, ANDHAVE SOMETHING TO BE ABLE TODEAL WITH IT.

IN FELLSMERE,I'M DEREK LOWE.

WPTV NC