Fireworks spark brush fire near Brooksville amid county burn ban
Fireworks ignited a brush fire near Lomita Wren Road and Mountain Bluebird Road, forcing crews to warn of limited visibility and blocked traffic routes.
A fireworks-sparked brush fire near Lomita Wren Road and Mountain Bluebird Road sent Hernando County Fire Rescue to Brooksville on Thursday afternoon, prompting traffic and visibility alerts as crews worked to stop the blaze from spreading.
The fire was reported at about 4:55 p.m. and was one of two wildfires that broke out in Citrus and Hernando counties within about 10 minutes of each other. The other fire began around 4:45 p.m. in Inverness, and the Florida Forest Service’s Withlacoochee Forestry Center responded to both incidents. In Brooksville, the Withlacoochee Forestry Center and Hernando County Fire Rescue moved in together, while officials said they had not yet determined the full size of the fire near Lomita Wren Road.
Firefighters asked residents to stay clear of the area so crews could move equipment and establish containment lines. That warning carried added weight with holiday fireworks use just ahead, when dry grass and roadside brush can turn a small ignition into a fast-moving fire that reduces visibility for drivers and creates sudden detours around active emergency scenes.
The blaze also landed in the middle of Hernando County’s countywide burn ban, which took effect Jan. 8 because of dry conditions and forecasts calling for below-average rainfall. County rules prohibit outdoor burning, including bonfires, campfires and burning vegetation or yard debris. Hernando County Fire Rescue has said its mission is to preserve life, protect property and safeguard the community through emergency response, fire prevention, education and medical services.
The risk has not been limited to Thursday’s fire. On Feb. 15, Hernando County Fire Rescue responded to three separate brush fires in a single day, including two illegal burns, underscoring how often local crews have been drawn into preventable fire calls this year. County officials have also pointed to National Fire Protection Association guidance, including the recommendation that smoke alarms be tested monthly, as part of a broader push to reduce fire danger at home while crews deal with outdoor ignition risks across the county.
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