Crews from Marion County Fire Rescue joined with fellow firefighters from the U.S. Forest Service and the Florida Forest Service to battle a huge blaze in the Ocala National Forest on Wednesday.
Personnel from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office also helped battle the Powerline Fire, which had burned about 750 acres by 6 p.m., a MCFR report says.
Fire crews received the first reports of the fire around 2 p.m. and multiple agencies quickly responded.
So far, 50 homes in the area have been evacuated and as of late Wednesday afternoon, five helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft were making water and fire-retardant drops on the fast-moving flames.
Residents from throughout the area near the forest could see the huge columns of flames and smoke in the area. And many shot videos and photos of the aircraft battling the fire.