KEYSTONE HEIGHTS, Fla. -- It took 845,700 gallons of water but a  brush fire that started as a result of a man burning debris is now 60% contained.

The brush fire, being called the Caribbean Circle Fire, is actually three fires that have burned 149 acres, according to Florida Division of Forestry Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Annaleasa Winter.

There are 66 personnel on scene helping to contain the blaze, Winter said.  These personnel are from the Clay County Fire Rescue Department, Clay County Emergency Management, multiple districts of Florida's Forest Service, the St. Johns River Water Management District, Duval County Emergency Management, Duval County American Red Cross and Camp Blanding Military Reservation.

Winter said all three fires have a fire line established around their perimeter.  Fire crews are continuing to mop up hot spots along the fire line and up to 100 feet inside the fire line.  From March 7th through March 12th a total of 845,700 gallons of water have been trucked in and pumped onto the fire, Winter said.

Fire crews are contending with multiple safety issues.  Winter said these include hot spots in the blackened areas, civilians in the fire lines and falling trees due to water saturation or burned root systems.

There will be fire crews at the Caribbean Circle fire for the next few weeks.  Winter said crews will maintain security of the fire lines and mop up hot spots around the fire.

Forestry officials are urging homeowners to remove vegetative debris and flammable shrubbery at least 30 feet away from their homes.  The Division of Forestry has additional tips to keep your home safe from brush fires.

First Coast News