2nd Fire Breaks Out in Brooker Creek

Firefighters are battling a second fire in the Brooker Creek Preserve. The three acre blaze is being referred to as the "Diagonal Powerline Fire". It broke out around 1:22 Saturday afternoon and is 75 percent contained, according to Sharon Kapolka, Florida Forest Services Duty Officer. Kapolka says at one point, a nearby powerline was on fire.

It is not known what caused the blaze. No homes were ever in danger, however smoke from the blaze was visible to residents in the Ridgemoor community. Palm Harbor Patch reader Chuck Finley sent us photos he took from a neighborhood in Ridgemoor that backs up to the preserve.

Firefighters are using two brush trucks to fight the blaze from the ground. East Lake Fire Dept. also responded to the scene. Kapolka says that some firefighters who were working a nearby wildfire referred to as the , were moved to fight the Diagonal Powerline Fire.

The Blackwater Fire broke out at 12:40 Friday afternoon. It is off of Pine Needle Path. Kapolka says that fire is 20 acres and is contained.

The Fire Danger Index in Pinellas County is High, according to the Florida Forest Service. Friday, the Florida Department of Agriculture issued a warning to citizens, asking them to be careful over the Memorial Day weekend because of the threat of wildfires.