UPDATE 4:00 p.m.:
According to Florida Forest Service, the fire has grown to at least 40 acres and is 40% contained near Yorkshire Boulevard and Blueleaf Drive. No homes are threatened and no one is hurt, North Port Fire Rescue said.
Spokesperson Patrick Mahoney said the wind, drought and low humidity are making things challenging.
A helicopter is on stand by and local agencies in the area are helping..
Mahoney said smoke will be in the area for a while.
He wants people to be aware of the extreme fire risks right now. He said you should mow in the morning, don't park on tall grass, and if you're welding — have a spotter.
What's interesting about this fire, Mahoney said, is it ran into the scar burns of the Mother's Day fire back in 2017.
He said that fire was wind-driven, it grew rapidly and was burning very hot, which took out a lot of vegetation.
Mahoney also said it blew across I-75, went into DeSoto County and burned a pasture. It also hit a wastewater area.
UPDATE 3:00 p.m.:
All lanes are back open.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Northbound lanes on I-75 are closed as first responders battle a brush fire near mile marker 172 in North Port.
According to North Port Fire Rescue, the fire is approximately 5 acres, and is near the Kings Highway interchange.
Officials are asking drivers to plan a different route as firefighters work to extinguish the fire.
