Smoke expected to linger in San Pablo area due to brush fire, per Florida Forest Service

Jacksonville, FL — Smoke is expected to linger for a few days, after a brush fire sparked Thursday afternoon off of San Pablo Road, just north of the Mayo Clinic.

The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department says to control the fire, they had 50 firefighters on scene and 44 pieces of apparatus. JFRD says two of those firefighters suffered heat-related issues and were taken to the hospital. However, they are considered to be stable.

The Florida Forest Service was called in to help as well.

"This area has never seen fire before, so it's thick woods. There are some dry swamps in there. Tough conditions for the equipment. Just really, really dry and the fuels are very susceptible to fire right now. So, a fire like this could have gotten really big, pretty quick, pretty easily," says the Florida Forest Service.

As of 5:00 PM Thursday, the fire was considered to be about 80% contained with a goal of having it reach 100% containment later Thursday night.

Regardless, smoke is expected to linger in the San Pablo Road area and potentially JTB and Beach Boulevard for a few days.

No homes were impacted, but the flames did get within 100 feet of a nearby subdivision, according to JFRD.

What caused this fire initially is under investigation.