UPDATED: Crews respond to fire on North Main Street, now 75 acres

Staff report

Updated at 10 p.m.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – As of 9:30 p.m., all evacuation orders for this fire have been lifted, and NE 53rd Avenue has been reopened. North Main Street is closed between NE 39th Avenue and NE 53rd Avenue until further notice.

Earlier reports

Fire crews are responding to a vegetation fire that is mainly west of North Main Street, between NE 39th Avenue and NE 53rd Avenue; as of 8:30 p.m., the fire is 75 acres in size. The containment lines on the west side of the fire are holding, and bulldozers have been plowing lines around spot fires on the east side of Main Street.

All residents of Bella Vista Village (110 NW 39th Ave.) are asked to evacuate their residences due to a brush fire in the area.

A Wireless Emergency Alert was sent out for evacuations in the area of 4700 N. Main Street, but these alerts can bleed over into adjacent areas. If you are asked to evacuate, follow the instructions of emergency personnel.

Previous updates:

There is one spot fire east of Main Street, and a helicopter is dropping water there. As of 4 p.m., the fire has grown to 25-30 acres. North Main Street and NE 53rd Avenue are currently closed near the fire.

The fire, near North Main Street between NE 39th Avenue and NE 53rd Avenue, was first reported at 2:10 p.m., and it was about 2 acres in size, with 0% containment, at 3:30 p.m. Florida Forest Service now has a helicopter over the fire, and some evacuations of nearby structures have been ordered.

This article will be updated as new information is provided.