Around 200 firefighters from multiple agencies have worked to put out the large Indian Lake Estates brush fire in Polk County.
- Indian Lake Estates brush fire burns 700 acres
- Around 200 firefighters worked to put out the fire
- Fire officials say the fire is suspicious
- RELATED: Indian Lake Estates brush fire now 60 percent contained
The Florida Forest Service said the now 700-acre fire had flames as high as 30 to 40 feet when it started Friday afternoon.
A mandatory evacuation has been lifted. Residents are allowed to return to their homes.
The fire is 60-percent contained.
Rebecca Rabe was evacuated from her home. She and her dog were parked outside the neighborhood on Friday.
“I thought maybe there might be a chance to get everything under control in a couple of hours and in a couple of hours we might be able to get back in,” Rabe said.
She said she couldn’t sleep because she was anxious about the status of her home.
“Couldn’t get in to get anything,” Rabe said. “Couldn’t get in to see where the fire was. So I didn’t know. I spent long hours not knowing if my home was in any kind of danger.”
On Saturday, Rabe learned that an Indian Lakes Estates maintenance shed burned down. She also learned that fire officials are calling the brush fire suspicious, similar to several others that have happened in the neighborhood in the last two months.
“What I want to know is, what would possess somebody to do this to not just one person but several. Lots of people are being affected by this,” Rabe said.
Other neighbors were just as upset.
“If it’s intentionally set, I sure hope they find them,” said Bobby Denney, another evacuee.
The Florida Forest Service said it isn’t sure if the fires were intentionally set.
Investigators want anyone who has seen someone setting fires to call it in to Florida Division of Forestry at 1-800-342-5869. Callers can remain anonymous.
Florida’s Forestry Arson Alert Association is offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.