Breaking News Alert: Wildfire near Hawthorne threatening homes

May 21, 2020 4:35 pm

UPDATED AT 6PM

From the Florida Forest Service

Multiple units from the Florida Forest Service and Alachua County Fire Rescue are responding to a wildfire at 20505 NE 22nd Lane in Hawthorne with structures threatened. Florida Forest Service wildland firefighters plowed containment lines around this fire with dozers stopping the forward progression of the #NE22ndLaneFire. Possibly one barn was lost. Updates on acreage and cause will follow. Alachua County Fire Rescue is flying their drone over the fire area now.

From the Melrose Fire Department:

Update on NE 22nd Lane Brush Fire:

“Fire is probably over 10 acres now. Unified Command established with Florida Forest Service. Multiple Forestry dozers and a Forestry airplane on scene. Possibly 2 outbuildings (sheds) destroyed.

Alachua County (Fire Rescue) is doing a Reverse 911 for people in the area reference evacuations. Fire crews are also evacuating nearby residents. Fire at this time is only 5% contained. Equivalent of a 3rd alarm response.”

UPDATED 5:22 PM

From the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office:

“Deputies assisting Alachua County Fire Rescue with a large brush fire in the 20000 block NE 22nd Lane. The area is primarily wooded but several residents are being evacuated. Fire officials have confirmed that there have been structures burned.”

UPDATED AT 5pm:

From Alachua County Fire Rescue Deputy Chief Jeff Taylor:

“We are all out here. We’ve got a 5 to 10 acre brush fire. Florida Forest Service has it 75% contained. At this point protecting four structures in case the wind shifts. Two autos, three trailers and one tractor have been damaged and one abandoned single wide burned down. At this I think we have a handle on this thing. Right now main roadways are unaffected.”

From the Alachua County Fire Rescue Facebook Page

“Alachua County Fire Rescue and other units are on the scene of a large brush fire in the area of NE 22ND lane south of Orange Heights. One unoccupied home in the area is on fire and crews are protecting another. The fire is reported to be greater than 10 acres at this time. Currently three brush trucks, two tankers, two engines, a rescue and the UAV team are on scene with District 5 in command. Please be mindful of emergency vehicles in the area.”

Windsor, Melrose and Alachua County fire rescue teams are on the scene.

From 4:35 PM

Alachua County Fire Rescue is currently fighting a large brush fire near US 301 between Hawthorne and Waldo. The fire is threatening homes in the area, and evacuations of nearby residents are taking place.

Four brush trucks, three engines and three tankers have been committed to the fire.

This is a breaking news story, and no other information is known at this time. Mainstreet Daily News will update this story as more details are learned.

Photos from the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page, and the Melrose Fire Department Facebook page.