Crime & Safety
125-Acre Brush Fire Contained By Firefighters
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue spent several hours Monday night battling a brush fire that grew from 30 acres to 125 acres.

LITHIA, FL — Update: Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Services fully calmed a wildfire Monday night that had started as a brush fire during the evening in the Lithia area. Multiple fire units were working to protect structures and power lines in the area as wind influenced the fire's growth to 125 acres as of Monday night.
No structures were reported as damaged as firefighters worked to get full control of the fire Monday night.
Update 9:26 p.m.: Eighty-percent of the 125 acres on fire is contained, according to Florida Forest Services. Officials said the fire behavior is not as aggressive earlier Monday evening. No structures have been damaged.
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Update: The brush fire in the Lithia area Monday night has grown to 50 acres, Florida Forest Services reported. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said it is a wind driven wildfire.
Original Patch Story:
Find out what's happening in Brandonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and Florida Forest Service are battling a 30-acre brush fire in the Lithia area Monday evening, Hillsborough Fire Rescue said.
Balm-Riverview Road is closed near the Balm Boyette Nature Preserve as firefighters work to control this massive fire. Fire officials said crews are working to make sure power lines and a structure in the area are protected by using brush trucks.
Brush fires are caused by dry weather conditions, HCFR said.
HCFR asks that residents avoid the area.
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