Pasco County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forest Service is on scene of a very large brush fire at Gunn Highway and State Road 54. 

  • 40 acre brush fire burning in Pasco County
  • Starkey Wilderness Park evacuated, closed
  • High winds, dry conditions causing fire to spread

Crews have worked for hours to get the fire under control, which is about 40 acres in size and 90 percent contained.

According to officials, the fire started around 9 a.m. at the Pulse Mulching Facility on SR 54. An ember from a small fire at the facility sparked a second fire in the nearby forest.

High winds and dry conditions caused the fire to spread several acres.

John Flood called the fire department when smoke got close to his model airplane field.

"I'd say about 9, 9:30 this morning we seen smoke over there, some fire chips flying through the air," he said. "Twenty mile per hour winds. We decided to call the fire company. By the time they got here, they had a job to do."

The National Guard assisted firefighters using a helicopter to perform water drops.

Five hundred people were evacuated from the Starkey Wilderness Park. The bike trails going into the park are also closed and all camping reservations for Sunday have been canceled.

One lane on SR 54, east of Gunn Highway, was closed while crews work to get the fire under control. 

Officials said high winds are causing the flames to spread rapidly, making it a difficult fire to fight.  

Residents could see smoke in the area over the next few days, officials said.