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Firefighters have contained 'suspicious' fires in Pasco County; State Road 54 reopened

 
Published April 26, 2017

TRINITY — Both directions of State Road 54 were re-opened Tuesday night after firefighters contained "suspicious" fires that burn 32 acres, according to Pasco County officials.

No homes are threatened and no evacuations were ordered. Officials said the westbound lanes of S.R. 54 between Old County Road 54 and Mitchell Ranch Road were reopened around 8 p.m. and then announced that eastbound lanes were reopened about 45 minutes later.

Pasco officials deemed the fires "suspicious" but did not reveal any other details.

The Florida Forest Service helped Pasco Fire Rescue contain the fires around 8 p.m. Firefighters continued to monitor hot spots, however.

Officials warned residents to be careful driving through low-lying smoke in areas near the brush fires.

Firefighters also dealt with smaller brush fire in Hudson on Tuesday. The fire, estimated to be 2-3 acres, was burning south of Denton Avenue and east of Coyote Road. It was being pushed northeast by strong winds, officials said.

No homes in nearby Renee Lane and Kitten Trail were threatened by that fire, officials said. But officials limited access to Arthur Engle Memorial Park, west of the blaze, to move firefighting equipment into the area.