Wildfires force evacuations in central Florida

Wildfires burning in central Florida have forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes. via KTNV

[vanessa1245]

i think this is a bad situation that will effect on our economy and it will put people in brevard county in danger and my releatives in danger. this is really serious so this is not a joke at all.

[Go home7669]

I live in Palm Bay, Florida. There is fire all around us. The emergency crews are having a difficult time getting around town because there are so many on lookers on the road. Please find some place to settle down and get off the road. I hope it isn't your family or your home that is in danger because someone like you slowed down response of emergency crews because they were nosey. My street is normally pretty busy. Tonight it is buzzing. A moment ago two huge fire trucks had to come to a complete stop in front of my home because the traffic was too heavy for them to pass. This is unnecessary and dangerous. Please go home.

[LAVERNE]

Our daughter moved to Plam Bay to escape the hurricanes i south Fo. Now she has the fires. She is a teacher at Bay Side HS she has been calling me with updates but i wish i could get to them.I know it would only create more traffic. Stay safe all, my prayers are with Palm Bay...God Bless

[Danielle]

I am up after 1am (not usual) and watering my house, lawn and neighbors' lawns. There are still active fires all around us in SouthEast. The wind has shifted and now we are in a smoke bomb in the middle of the night, taking shifts to water the ground around us, keeping at bay embers that we can't see. This is not cool. We have an evacuation plan. If you live in SE Palm Bay, you should too.

[BostonMommy]

This is the most upsetting news. I woke up with my toddler in the middle of the night 300 am Tuesday morning to this news. We are relocating from Boston in less than a month to a brand new home less than then 3 miles to Bayside High and Westside elementary. I am very scared and worried. I pray everyone there stays safe.

[Jason]

4 a.m. just went outside to check, live about 1/2 mile North of Bay Side Lakes golf course. Only a faint smell of smoke, much less than earlier. I can still hear the emergency vehicles, but can't really make out the glow of the fire anymore om the distance. Can't really find any recent updates for fires near Jupiter and Bay Side. If you have any please post them.

[MikeY in Augusta GA]

I have family there in Palm Bay. I talked to them last night and they were staying at a Catholic church that has been set up as a shelter. Do not know if our home is ok or not. No news as of yet.
They live on Sarragassa Ave. Any news would be good. The people in Palm Bay are in our prayers. If this is arson I pray that the people responsable are caught and taught a lesson. This is attempted murder and should be judged as so.

[Ray from Philly]

Have family in Palm Bay, although not in immediate danger, fire is down street a ways dangering cousins home. Anyone with any updated info of fires in the vicinity of Cogan & Topsy Rds?(in the S.E.) Thanks for any update

[Floridiots Abound]

You can get updates at www.FloridaToday.com (local paper)or www.CFNews13.com (central FL news channel)

[Sister in North Carolina]

Tuesday May 13, 2008.
My sister lives in Palm Bay and i just got off the phone with her. She lost everything.Her cat was in the house and she had Tortoises in her back yard that she has had for years that didn,t make it. Our mother died recently and she lost all her things. She did save her dog who was with her. She tried to fight the fire with a hose until she just couldnt stay any longer.She just recovered from the last hurricane. She lost her roof and half the house from that. Now she has lost everything. At least she is alive. But that doesn,t save you from the hurt.

[Cindy Heath]

Ray from Philly wrote:

Have family in Palm Bay, although not in immediate danger, fire is down street a ways dangering cousins home. Anyone with any updated info of fires in the vicinity of Cogan & Topsy Rds?(in the S.E.) Thanks for any update

I have children and grandchildren in Palm Bay and just got off of the phone with my daughter-in-law and she said that Cogan and Topsey is one of the worst areas. You need to get in touch with whoever lives there and make sure they're okay. Those houses have been evacuated.

[heather]

used to live in palm bay. does anybody know what roads are affected? thanks

[Linda]

We are in Germany right now and a friend went to see our home in Cogan, woods and gras around the house is burned down. House is fine. This is all so sad and scary. I keep on praying. Wish it would rain. Will be back soon!

[Cindy]

Daughter has a home on Ray Road in Palm Bay. Can anyone tell me how close the fire is to her home?

[Clarence]

I have family in Palm Bay, they live on Fountain Ave SW, Do anyone know if the fire is on that street or in the area near there.

[Ray from Philly]

Talked to my folks there in Palm Bay (Waterford St SE), their house suffered little damage, their utility shed and tractor is destroyed,however the house next to theirs is just a shell now. No electric, report is not for about 4 weeks. Cousin's place has some damage, garage side is cooked and A/C unit destroyed, else all ok. Nasty nasty nasty. Hope the one who started it all is caught and made an example of.

[live on waterford st se]

Cindy Heath wrote:

<quoted text>
I have children and grandchildren in Palm Bay and just got off of the phone with my daughter-in-law and she said that Cogan and Topsey is one of the worst areas. You need to get in touch with whoever lives there and make sure they're okay. Those houses have been evacuated.

my family lives in that area said all is lost, as far as yard the fire was at their feet and they evacuated

[live on waterford st se]

have a house on waterford st by topsey an cogan,,,,family evacuated,,fire melted all in yard,,,dont know if house is still standing

[daughter in se florda]

my mom, brother, and stepfather live off witchita st off of san fellipo. does anyone know if this are is affected? any info would be greatly appreciated. phone calls not going through.

[ddm]

hope you all are safe and the piece of trash who started it including a builder is caught and extremely punished.