Update (8:14 p.m.) Gainesville Fire Rescue added Bella Vista Village in the area of 110 NW 39th Ave. to the evacuation orders due to a nearby brush fire.

Update (7:55 p.m.) Gainesville Fire Rescue reports that the N. Main Street wildfire is now mostly contained, with crews continuing to secure the scene and prevent further spread. First responders continue to work toward containing the wildfire off State Road 121 near the Eryn’s Garden subdivision. Red Cross aid has been requested for displaced residents, Gainesville said.

Original post:

Alachua County officials ordered wildfire evacuations in north Gainesville following the Sunday outbreak of a large wildfire on both the east and west side of N. Main Street.

The Florida Forest Service said the fire grew to 60 acres as of a 5 p.m. update, with multiple structures threatened. Alachua County Fire Rescue and Gainesville Fire Rescue responded along with Florida Forest Service which brought in a helicopter to dump water on the fires.

The forest services also said the containment lines, usually formed with bulldozers, on the western side of the fire were holding.

The city of Gainesville and Alachua County issued evacuation alerts for the 4700 N. Main Street area and Eryn’s Garden subdivision around 8300 N. State Road 121. The county told residents to follow instructions from first responders.

State Road 121 is closed just north of US 441. Main Street is blocked north of 39th Avenue, and 53rd Avenue is closed on both sides of Main Street for several miles.

Wildfires from January 1, 2026 through April 12, 2026

• Florida: 1,596 wildfires (54,818 acres burned)
• Federal: 80 (42,327 acres burned)

The Humane Society of North Central Florida evacuated and put out a call to volunteers to help temporarily house animals. The nonprofit reported all 40 dogs and 18 cats had found fosters.

“We have staff on-site at 4205 NW 6th Street and are actively working to keep all animals safe,” a Facebook post read. “Out of an abundance of caution due to a fire in the vicinity, we are urgently looking to move as many animals as possible into foster homes.”

Alachua County has five active wildfires, according to the state’s dashboard, along with one other reported fire.

A wildfire near Orange Lake is 134 acres and 75% contained. The Florida Forest Service is also responding to a 200-acre fire north of Bostwick that is 0% contained, along with a 1,000-acre fire on the Clay County side.

Earlier this week, first responders worked to contain a 400-acre wildfire a few miles northeast of the Gainesville Regional Airport. That fire was reported at 60% contained on Thursday evening.