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LAKE MARY, Fla.-There are at least four fires burning in Brevard and Volusia counties.The good news is that Interstate 95 is back open to traffic.Florida Highway Patrol opened the roadway around 6 a.m. this morning,but U.S. Hwy 1 remains closed from the Indian River County line to Malabar Road.Late Monday afternoon two schools in Palm Bay,Bayside High School and Westside Elementary were evacuated.Evacuations still in effect in Volusia County Evacuations are still in effect near Daytona Beach.Fire crews evacuated 500 homes near the LPGA International Golf Club."I got home around eleven last night, and I started walking through the woods behind my house.I could see patches of flames coming out of the ground," said Dave Adams who lives in the Bayberry Lakes Community.Estimates of the fire size have increased to roughly 900 acres.Officials say there will be about fifty firefighters and nine engines working throughout the day on Monday to improve the breaks created around the fire. Firefighters are hoping they can continue to contain the fire and lift evacuation notices, but they also acknowledge that wind and weather conditions could impact their progress..."During the course of the day, that could change, and we fear that the fire will start to head back to the Bayberry Subdivision," said Paul Neely of the Daytona Beach Fire Department. The American Red Cross has set up a shelter for evacuees at the Hampton in off of International Speedway Blvd.Most Brevard brush fires containedMost of the brush fires in Brevard County are now contained.In Palm Bay, the fire is still active in the area of San Filipppo Drive and Gagstater Avenue and east of St. Andre Boulevard.Cocoa firefighters continue to monitor a 250 acre blaze in the area of Cox Road, Friday Road, State Road 524 and Satellite Boulevard and the massive brush fire in Malabar is burning in the area of Osage Street and Prosperity Lane. Officials say the flames are threatening homes east of I-95 between Atz Road and Benjamin Road to the Indian River.Malabar fire destroys homes
A 2,100 acre brushfire is still out of control in Brevard County. It has destroyed two homes off Corey Road in Malabar. Pat Randolf says her mother and father own the home.The couple was in the process of trying to sell the house.According to Randolf, her mom and dad were in Nebraska and most of their valuable momentos had been removed at the time of the fire.Randolf had been watching the home.She says the brush behind the house was on fire yesterday, but she didn't think it would jump and set the house on fire.Crews making progress in Palm BayFire crews in Palm Bay are making considerable progress is quelling any flare ups related to four separate fires which ignited on Sunday. The Palm Bay Police Department says most of the brush fires are contained and fire investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fires which have been deemed suspicious.A reward of $10,000 has been set for information that will lead to the arrest and conviction of the person or person responsible.
Power outages
Florida Power and Light reports that the fires have also caused power outages in both Volusia and Brevard counties.In Daytona Beach, two utility poles have burned leaving about 100 customers without power.In the Malabar/Palm Bay area, three power poles have burned leaving about 110 customers without power.
As in the days of Noah....
