Brush fire burns in Osteen

A rapidly growing brush fire sent smoke into the skies over southern Volusia County on Tuesday evening.

Firefighters with the Florida Forest Service and Volusia County Fire battled the blaze off Maytown-Osteen Road, dubbed the Break 91 Fire. Within hours, the firefighters had the fire 80 percent contained, meaning fire breaks had been plowed around an estimated 80 percent of the perimeter of the fire. The fire, on private property, was estimated at more than 100 acres in size, the Forest Service posted on its social media account.

The fire danger index remains low in East Central Florida, in part because of the plentiful rain. The fire danger is much higher in South Florida. Statewide the Forest Service is monitoring 18 active fires.