Fire grows in Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area in Martin County

Mauricio La Plante, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·2 min read

MARTIN COUNTY ― A wildfire erupted on the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road near Indiantown Thursday afternoon.

The fire has grown to 800 acres by 7 p.m. - from about 50 at 1 p.m., said Miguel Nevarez of Florida Forest Service.

A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon March 23, 2023, on the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown.
A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon March 23, 2023, on the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown.

He said it is 50% contained at 800 acres at 9 p.m.

There are no reported injuries and the fire is not threatening any homes, Martin County Fire Rescue reports.

Several mobile homes from an RV encampment were threatened, but everyone was evacuated from the park, said Cory Pippen, of Martin County Fire Rescue.

A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon March 23, 2023, on the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown. Image is from above the fire.
A wildfire broke out Thursday afternoon March 23, 2023, on the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown. Image is from above the fire.

The Forest Service reported hunting camps in the area were threatened, but there are no other threats or hazards.

Nevárez said firefighters face challenges from spot overs.

The winds carry embers from the original fire and start other blazes that can surround the firefighters.

“What happens is it then puts that guy or that woman in danger because now they’re in the threshold of being surrounded by fire,” Nevárez said. “So what they need to do is back off their initial fireline cut, get further away to safety and essentially begin again.”

The sun sets as a wildfire burns Thursday evening March 23, 2023, in the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown.
The sun sets as a wildfire burns Thursday evening March 23, 2023, in the John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County near Indiantown.
A fire erupted Thursday afternoon, March 23, 2023, in John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County.
A fire erupted Thursday afternoon, March 23, 2023, in John C. and Mariana Jones/Hungryland Wildlife and Environmental Area off Pratt Whitney Road in Martin County.

Florida Forest Service has a supervisor, a fixed wing pilot, and seven dozers on scene. Martin County Sheriff's Office is also there, as is the county's fire rescue with four brush trucks, two fire engines, a water tanker, a district chief and command staff.

Currently there is a 5 to 10 mph wind in Indiantown, according to the National Weather Service in Melbourne. There is no rain expected until Tuesday, when there's a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms after noon. Wind is expected to be no higher than 15 mph through Tuesday.

The Florida Forest Service's Wildfire Danger Index lists Martin and St. Lucie counties as being at moderate risk for fire. Indian River County is at a low risk.

The Keetch-Byram Drought Index estimates the dryness of soil. With 800 being desert conditions, Martin and St. Lucie counties are at 550 to 599. Indian River County is 500 to 549.

Mauricio La Plante is a breaking news reporter for TCPalm. Follow him on Twitter @mslaplantenews or email him at Mauricio.LaPlante@tcpalm.com.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fire engulfs hundreds of acres in Hungryland near pratt whitney road