A portion of State Road 54 is down to one lane.

PASCO COUNTY -Officials here are evacuating and shutting down Starkey Wilderness Park because of a brush fire in the Odessa area around Gunn Highway and State Road 54.

Pasco officials had already asked residents are being asked to avoid the area as crews from Pasco County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service battle a brush fire.

The brush fire, which county officials described as “very large,” is being stoked by high winds that cause the flames to spread rapidly. Because of that, officials said, the blaze is hard to fight.

SR 54 is down to one lane east of Gunn to make access easier for firefighting vehicles.

Florida has been plagued with fires as drought conditions set in across the state. Pasco in particular has seen several blazes this month. And, about a week ago, officials were calling four fires in the area around SR 54 near Old County 54 and Mitchell Ranch Road suspicious after seeing teens running from the area.

For information about Pasco Fire Rescue, go to pascocountyfl.net.

Pasco County Fire | Brush Fire | Pasco Brush Fire | Tampa Bay News | TB Reporter

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