Firefighters with the Florida Forest Service are battling a brush fire in Citrus County.

The large fire started Saturday in Floral City after several lightning strikes, fire officials said. It's burning in a marshy area south of Cod Drive.

An FFS helicopter is being used to ignite the unburned fuels to stop the fire’s forward progress.

Firefighters estimate the fire could grow to 1,000 acres.

Citrus County Fire Rescue and Wildland firefighters assisted.