Low Humidity, Winds Promote Spread Of Fires In Tampa Bay

SPRING HILL, FL -- The National Weather Service in Tampa is urging residents to avoid burning debris outdoors due to weather conditions that are creating a fire hazard.

According to the NWS, a dry air mass across West Central and Southwest Florida has brought humidity levels below 35 percent. The low humidity combined with a lack of rain and winds around 15 mph with occasional gusts could cause fires to rapidly spread. The Fire Danger Indices for Tampa Bay is "very high."

Pasco County Fire Rescue personnel say that's what happened Monday afternoon, March 5. Firefighters received a call at 3:20 p.m. of a structure fire in the 17200 block of Bosley Drive in Spring Hill.

When they arrived at the scene, they found a large, fast-moving brush fire had spread to a shed behind a home.

It took firefighters about 30 minutes to bring the fire under control and contain it to an acre. The shed, a trailer, a van and several piles of trash were burned before firefighters doused the flames.

Fire rescue personnel believe the fire spread from an unattended burn pit in the property owner's back yard.

Video via Pasco County Fire Rescue