Wickham Park, Melbourne, Brevard County
Fire:
Flames broke out west of Wickham Park, along Wickham Road and Parkway Drive, but the fire quickly grew to three acres, and started creeping into the park area, as well as near several businesses.
Crews were able to quickly set up a perimeter around the fire and get it contained. The fire was under control Tuesday morning. No one was hurt.
Arson Investigation:
A Melbourne man was arrested after he was seen running into a wooded area with a gas can, but the can turned out to have nothing more dangerous than orange juice.
The incident happened Tuesday, shortly after law enforcement asked neighbors to be vigilant, as they searched for the arsonist responsible for the brush fires in Brevard County.
The alleged sighting at the Northgate Plaza near Aurora and Wickham roads sent police on a massive search for the man with a gas can.
Two people were detained, but police later realized that the gas can people thought they saw was actually a container of orange juice.
Shelter:
The Red Cross had set up shelter for the general population at Central Baptist Church, 2503 Country Club Road, Melbourne, but it is currently closed because it was not needed.
Cocoa, Brevard County
Fire:
The Cocoa fire, in the area of State Road 524, Friday Road, Cox Road, and I-95, is contained and mop-up operations are currently being done. The total acreage for the Cocoa fire is approximately 320 acres.
People were allowed back in their homes and hotel rooms in Cocoa after being forced out due to a brush fire flare-up Wednesday afternoon that shut down S.R. 524 and Interstate 95.
The fire spread so rapidly that people living in two mobile home parks and people staying at two nearby hotels had to be evacuated.
Those forced to flee said they are relieved.
"We feel better coming back now than we did leaving," said one man.
"It looked bad, but as long as we don't see any flames and they say it is OK, we have no problems," said one woman.
Crews were back out Wednesday morning watching for hot spots and flareups.
Evacuations:
All evacuations have been lifted, including the following areas near State Road 524 and Friday Road: Westgate Mobile Home Park, Cypress Trace Mobile Home Park, the Super 8 Motel, and the Ramada Inn.
Road Closures:
See all road closures.
Structure Damage:
One business was destroyed Monday in the fire. No additional structures were reported damaged Tuesday.
Shelter:
The Red Cross had opened a shelter at the Cocoa West Community Center, at 230 S. Burnett Road, at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday for residents evacuated from the Westgate and Cypress Trace mobile home parks. The shelter was later closed when residents were allowed back into their homes. For more information, call 211.
Arson Investigation:
According to Florida Today, Brevard County Fire Rescue was calling the fire suspicious.
It was not clear whether the fire was accidental or deliberate, but officials said the fire was not an act of nature.
The Division of Forestry said it would investigate the cause.
In addition, police in Cocoa arrested a woman they said started several small fires in the area overnight Wednesday.
Officers said Margaret Kaderabek was spotted by several witnesses at her apartment complex on Dixon Boulevard starting a fire, letting it burn for a few moments, and then putting it out herself.
When confronted by police, Kaderabek told officers she was bored, and admitted she was aware of the brush fire danger in Brevard County.
Kaderabek was held in jail on $2,000 bond.
Hotline:
(321) 637-5550
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