PSL, Fellsmere wildfires fully contained; FPL working to restore power lines

UPDATES

8:00 p.m.: Florida Forest Service for the Okeechobee District tweeted an aerial photo of the 15-acre fire.

6:24 p.m.: A wildfire that started in Fellsmere on Wednesday is 100 percent contained. The 380-acre fire was in an undeveloped, uninhabited area.

5:40 p.m.: The 15-acre fire is 100 percent contained. FPL is on the scene restoring power after power lines were affected. Fire burned several wooden poles.

5:11 p.m.: The 15-acre fire is now 80 percent contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.

3:02 p.m. Port St. Lucie police ordered residents at four homes to evacuate from the area near the 15-acre fire.

2:57 p.m.: Florida Forest Service reports the 15-acre Van Kleff Wildfire is 50 percent contained.

2:40 p.m.: Florida Power & Light Co. and state parks crews are on scene at the 15-acre St. Lucie County fire.

2:32 p.m. The homes near the 15-acre fire in St. Lucie have "defensible space" from the blaze, the Florida Forest Service said after conducting an aerial look at the area.

2:30 p.m. Bakersfield Street is closed to traffic beyond Pyramid Lane for the 15-acre fire in St. Lucie.

2:13 p.m.: Firefighters are working to contain a brush fire behind Stuart Point Apartments in Jensen Beach, according to the Martin County Sheriff's Office.

2:12 p.m.: Three homes are threatened in the Van Kleff Wildfire in St. Lucie, according to the Florida Forest Service. The fire is now estimated at 15 acres.

EARLIER STORY

Forestry officials said Friday they remain concerned about the Treasure Coast's wildfire threat as two wildfires developed Friday afternoon.

In St. Lucie, a four-acre fire off of Southeast Van Kleff Avenue and Southeast Bakersfield Street was discovered Friday afternoon, the Forest Service said. Forestry crews and the St. Lucie County Fire District were battling that blaze.

And in Martin County, the Sheriff's Office said there was a blaze behind the Treasure Coast Square mall.

With the winds as strong as 17 mph Friday and no rain expected over the weekend, the threat remains very high for rekindling at the sites of this week's fires, as well as touching off new fires, officials said.

More: Wildfires in Indian River, St. Lucie to be monitored a third day

"We're anticipating some sleeper fires to start" in the area of the 381-acre fire in the Fellsmere area west of Interstate 95 and north of State Road 60, Florida Forest Service spokeswoman Melissa Yunas said. "They're out there, just smoldering."

The wildfire, which kicked up enough smoke to force authorities to close Interstate 95 for several hours Wednesday night, was 90 percent contained Friday, Yunas said. Four other wildfires — each less than 20 acres — also were handled and fully contained in Indian River County over the last few days.

Indian River rates a 4, or "very high," on the five-point scale for the forest service's fire danger index. Martin County rated a 5, for "extreme," on the index, while St. Lucie County rated a 3, which is "high."

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A red flag warning was in effect for the Treasure Coast because of critically low relative humidity values. Forestry officials said burning yard trash or starting a campfire is discouraged during the warning.

The big fire this week in St. Lucie was the 204-acre blaze off Becker Road, which was 100 percent contained as of Friday. Full containment means the fire is no longer spreading, but firefighters and forestry crews remained there to monitor for hot spots.

Lightning strikes Tuesday caused the two large fires to develop Wednesday.

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This story will be updated.