PALM BAY, Fla. – A new brush fire burning in Palm Bay’s ‘Compound’ area is prompting evacuations as a precaution.
According to Palm Bay Fire Rescue, crews are battling a 100-acre fire in the Compound right now in the area of Madden and Olivia roads. It’s about 50% contained.
Officials say they are issuing some evacuation orders as a precaution for anyone within a 1-mile radius of the fire. Residents may get a reverse 9-1-1 call from Palm Bay police.
It’s one of several fires in the Compound area that have popped up this week.
A brush fire on Wednesday burned about 50 acres. Crews were able to get the fire under control and extinguished with the help of the Florida Forest Service and Malabar Fire Rescue.
Crews are going to monitor the fire for hot spots.
[WATCH: Huge brush fires at notorious ‘Compound’ in Palm Bay ‘intentionally set,’ police say]
Palm Bay Fire Rescue officials believe the fire was kindled from a 160-acre fire that occurred on Tuesday. However, investigators are still looking into the cause of the fire.
That 160-acre brush fire from Tuesday appears to be intentionally set, fire officials said Thursday.
“Nine fires sort of burning independently of one another in the way that they were burning in the areas, the distance - it just was strange, not normal,” Palm Bay Fire Rescue Assistant Chief John Ringleb told News 6 on Wednesday.
In a release on Thursday afternoon, Ringleb announced that crews were still tackling a fire near Madden Avenue and Olivia Street.
“You may see a reverse 911 come from Palm Bay (Police Department),” he explained. “Just as a precaution, we are asking everybody within a mile radius to be prepared to evacuate.”
Investigators asked people to stay out of the Compound for safety reasons.
Video captured by a resident showed a helicopter drawing water from a nearby pond to help crews contain the flames, highlighting the scale of the response effort.
Residents expressed gratitude for first responders working to protect their homes.
“I’m grateful for them. I’m always grateful for them and the police,” Moss said.
Still, concerns remain about safety in the area, which has a long history of crime. The Moss family said they hope law enforcement increases patrols in light of the recent fires and ongoing dry conditions.
“I just think they should have more patrols in the area,” Moss said.
Officials said no structures have been damaged in any of the fires so far. Crews are expected to remain in the area to monitor for hotspots that could reignite.