Big Pine Burns

The wildfire crisis going on throughout Florida reached the Florida Keys, with a fire that burned in Big Pine Key on Wednesday. According to Monroe County Sheriff's Office reports the fire was somehow started by an abandoned vehicle just before 4 p.m. and then spread to the nearby brush. Fire investigators have not ruled out arson.

Monroe County Sheriff’s deputies, fire department officials and division of forestry rangers remained at the scene of the fire Thursday morning, monitoring the situation to make sure there were no flare-ups from the Wednesday night flames. Several residents of the area had to be evacuated but most have been allowed to return home already.

The Red Cross has been contacted to assist those who either cannot return to their homes or need to stay elsewhere because of the lingering smoke in the air.

del.icio.us - Digg This