Two brush fires broke out in Brevard County on Thursday, February 26, burning a combined 25 acres and forcing evacuations in one community. Firefighters responded to separate incidents, one near the Ponce de Leon area and another near the Sebastian River, according to the Brevard County Fire Marshal’s Office. Dry conditions and strong winds fueled the blazes, which officials said were fully contained by late evening. A shelter-in-place order was issued at a middle school in Melbourne after flames spread near the campus, displacing hundreds of students temporarily.
The first fire, reported around 2:45 p.m., ignited in a residential area near the Melbourne Beach inlet. Residents were evacuated from a stretch of residential streets as crews worked to stop the spread. The second fire, which started near the Sebastian River at 4:10 p.m., forced the closure of a portion of State Road 520. No injuries were reported, but several homes were damaged in the Ponce de Leon incident.
Melbourne City Schools activated emergency protocols at the school near the river fire, moving students to interior classrooms and providing bottled water. Parents were advised to pick up children immediately after the shelter-in-place ended at 6:30 p.m. Firefighters used aerial equipment and ground crews to suppress both fires, which officials said were likely caused by unattended campfires.
Brevard County officials warned residents to remain vigilant as the region continues to experience below-average rainfall this month. The Florida Forest Service said the dry spell has increased the risk of wildfires, urging residents to avoid outdoor fires and report suspicious activity. Firefighters are investigating the causes of both blazes, which have prompted renewed calls for stricter fire safety measures in the county.