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Crews battled a brush fire at Boyd Hill Nature Preserve Thursday, which they said was contained to about a one-acre area by late afternoon.
Officials with St. Petersburg Fire Rescue said they received a call from nearby McCabe United Methodist Church about noon alerting them to the blaze.
Fire crews arrived at 245-acre preserve, which has a numerical address of 1101 Country Club Way S, and found the area burning. Officials said the blaze was not a planned burn and there is no information about how it started. Fires are not allowed in the preserve right now because of current weather conditions.
St. Petersburg police reported that northbound lanes of 31st Street S were were shut down at about 2 p.m. near 26th Avenue S. Motorists at the time were advised to avoid the area. The road re-opened around 4 p.m.
Traffic Alert!#StPetePD is assisting with traffic at the intersection of 26th Avenue South and 31st Street South. Northbound lanes on 31st Street South are shut down temporarily due to a nearby brush fire. Drivers are encouraged to seek alternate routes. pic.twitter.com/pZFwvSI5X4
— St. Pete Police (@StPetePD) March 31, 2022
The active calls website for Pinellas 911 showed about about 25 units were at the scene at one point. Crews from Seminole Fire Rescue, St. Pete Beach Fire Rescue and Florida State Forestry assisted.
Dry and windy weather prompted officials to issue a rare wildfire warning for the area this week. However, rain and storms are expected to move in Thursday night and last through the weekend.
Related: Front expected to end dry air, bring a stormy weekend to Tampa Bay
Every day through Sunday has a rain chance of at least 50 percent, according to Spectrum Bay News 9.
A small brush fire was reported in @BoydHillNP Preserve this afternoon. The fire is under control and crews remain on scene to observe the situation and ensure no additional flare ups occur. This was not a prescribed burn and the cause of the fire is currently unknown.
— Ken Welch (@MayorKenWelch) March 31, 2022