News-Sun staff reports

LAKE PLACID - A voluntary evacuation of homes and businesses along Holmes Avenue was lifted shortly after it was issued due to a 60-acre brush fire in the area.

According to Melissa Yunas, wildfire mitigation specialist with Division of Forestry, firefighters have the is was 75 percent contained as of 3 p.m. Thursday, when the evacuation request was rescinded.

Florida Division of Forestry has established the initial fire breaks, but the vegetation is thick from downed hurricane debris. Yunas said the sand scrub vegetation is extremely flammable and dry. Crews are having a difficult time with spotting.

"We are not playing around, we are sending everything we have on this fire because of the location, history of fires and dryness of the vegetations," said Tim Elder, forest area supervisor, Division of Forestry.

Units and personnel on scene include roughly 50 firefighters, three medium dozers, a heavy dozer, a fixed-wing aircraft, a helicopter with bambi bucket, three fire engines and three overhead engines, all from Division of Forestry, as well as five brush trucks, three tankers, two engines and two overhead engines from Highlands County Fire Rescue.