Brush fire west of New Smyrna Beach grows to over 300 acres, as crews work to contain flames
Brush fire in Volusia County continues to grow
A brush fire in Samsula near State Routes 44 and 415 has burned over 300 acres.
NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. - A 300-plus-acre brush fire in Volusia County, west of New Smyrna Beach near Samsula, is spreading, prompting a travel advisory.
‘You never know. Fire is wild. It can jump a long way’
What we know:
A brush fire in Samsula near State Routes 44 and 415 has burned more than 300 acres.
Fire crews from Volusia County, Flagler County, New Smyrna Beach, and Florida Forestry Services are working to contain the flames. No homes have burned, and no evacuations have been ordered, but some residents are preparing to leave if conditions worsen. Helicopters are scooping water from local ponds to fight the fire.
The thick smoke in the area has prompted a travel advisory near Cucumber Lane and Honeydew Lane.
CREDIT: Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association
What we don't know:
Authorities have not determined the cause of the fire. It’s unclear how long it will take to fully contain the flames, as shifting winds could impact efforts. There is also no official word on whether the fire is spreading closer to residential areas or if evacuations may be necessary in the near future.
What they're saying:
"If I see flames coming this way, I’m heading back there, and I’m getting my wife and saying we’re out of here," said Fletcher Turner who lives nearby.
One of the major focuses for firefighters is keeping the fire off nearby homes, while fathers like Turner focus on protecting their families.
"Got the call from my son. He texted me, called me, and said, 'Dad it’s urgent you got to get home — there’s a fire out here.' I work in Port Orange. I get on Dunlawton, I can see smoke from Dunlawton in Port Orange, and I’m like I’m trying to get home, and he’s like, 'Dad, it’s bad,'" Turner said.
Turner said he got home just in time to find a helicopter scooping water from his neighbor's pond before flying deep into the woods and dumping the water onto the flames.
"In these kinds of winds, you never know. It’s pretty crazy watching these helicopters scoop water out of the pond," said resident Mike Tomazin. "They’re pulling water off our property too out of the pond at my sister’s house."
Tomazin said he would stay on high alert as smoke billows from the tree line.
"You never know. Fire is wild. It can jump a long way. So hopefully we get this thing under wraps here soon, and we’ll be done."
The backstory:
The fire began earlier in the day and quickly spread across more than 100 acres of wooded land. Residents first noticed smoke before seeing helicopters and fire crews arrive.
Some locals, like Fletcher Turner, rushed home after receiving urgent calls from family members about the fire’s proximity. The blaze has been fueled by dry conditions and strong winds, making containment efforts challenging.
Florida is no stranger to brush fires, especially during dry seasons when wind can cause flames to spread unpredictably. While no homes have burned, residents remain on edge as fire crews work to keep the blaze away from structures.
The situation underscores the ongoing risk of wildfires in rural and wooded areas, where emergency responses must be swift to prevent further damage.
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The Source: The information in this article comes from the Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association, the Florida Division of Forestry, Volusia County Fire Rescue, and New Smyrna Beach Fire Department.