BY: STAFF REPORT | BocaNewsNow.com
UPDATE: 3:20 p.m. — The City of Boca Raton just issued this release:
At 4:56 a.m. this morning, Boca Raton Fire Rescue swiftly responded to a report of a brush fire at 7400 Congress Avenue in Boca Raton. The alert came from a vigilant passerby who spotted smoke and flames during their morning walk along the El Rio Trail.
Upon arrival, Boca Raton Fire Rescue encountered challenging conditions, with heavy smoke and flames deeply entrenched within the densely wooded area. Despite the difficulties posed by windy weather, approximately 45-50 firefighters, in collaboration with Palm Beach County Fire Rescue, mobilized to contain the blaze.
After an intensive effort spanning 2.5 hours, the fire was successfully brought under control. However, the incident left approximately 4-5 acres scorched. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.
Boca Raton Fire Rescue extends its gratitude to all responders for their swift and coordinated action in mitigating this emergency. The community’s safety remains our utmost priority as we continue to investigate the incident further.
UPDATE: 11:50 a.m. — All roads have reopened. Boca Raton Fire Rescue tells us that more than 50 firefighters from Boca Raton and Palm Beach County Fire Rescue were on scene. One firefighter sustained a sprained ankle, but otherwise there were no injuries. It’s unclear how the fire — which burned several acres — started.
BOCA RATON, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2024 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — We ignored an early morning brush fire in Boca Raton because, quite simply, it was an early morning brush fire and it seemed inconceivable that it wouldn’t be out in an hour or less. But four hours later, it is still burning and now causing traffic problems.
The City of Boca Raton tells BocaNewsNow.com at 8:30 a.m. that the fire is still burning in the area of North Congress between Boca Club Boulevard and NW Beacon Square. This is in the area of Costco Boca Raton.
Traffic is down to one lane in the area. Expect a very slow go throughout the morning. Boca Raton Fire is on the scene battling the blaze, but the heat and humidity are apparently making that a bit of a challenge.
We’ll update as soon as we hear more. The fire was first reported in the 4 a.m. hour Thursday.
