HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Sudden wind changes turned a prescribed burn into a large brush fire on Thursday.
Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department was conducting a prescribed burn at Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park when winds shifted, and the fire spread.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) said that they received calls of smoke and tracked it to the area of the controlled burn. Crews were asked by officials on scene to stay on standby for assistance.
That's when the winds unexpectedly changed.
HCFR called 16 units to help contain the blaze that involved 100 to 125 acres.
There were no injuries to first responders, and no evacuations have been made.
The park will be closed until further notice.
“You know, it might just be time we take a look if HOAs are really even necessary.
Maybe we should just do away with homeowner associations as a whole.”
South Florida lawmaker Rep. Juan Carlos Porras (R-Miami) says it may be time to do away with homeowners associations altogether, as more Floridians speak out about rising fees, costly lawsuits, and even arrests tied to HOA disputes. He said this week that he is considering filing legislation in the next session that would abolish HOAs statewide.