WEEKI WACHEE, FL - Just after 3:00 P.M. on April 18th, Hernando County Fire and Rescue were called out to a brush fire in the area of US 19 and SR 52. The fire was traveling behind some commercial buildings, moving from west to east.

The extremely dry conditions made it difficult to get around the edge to slow the fire down, which was moving in the direction of homes located on Moongate Rd. Crews were doing their best to keep the fire and embers from getting to the residents and all the outside belongings.

Residents were in their backyard using what they could from their home, like water hoses, to keep water on the roofs and automobiles in front of the homes. Crews from the Florida Forest Service’s Withlacoochee Forestry Center were assisting with tractors to help contain the blaze, which officials estimated at 20-25 acres.

An HCFR helicopter made water drops over the fire as they worked to slow the spread. Companies remained on the scene for hours checking on any hotspots that might flare up.