UPDATE - WEDNESDAY EVENING AT 8:37 P.M.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Santa Rosa County Emergency Management says roadways are back open following a brush fire in Jay.
Officials report six homes were evacuated earlier as a precaution.
According to SRCEM, the fire didn't damage any homes. Recommended evacuations are now lifted for the area.
Florida Forest Service sent the following statement:
"The brush fire is 60% contained at 160 acres. All forward progress has been stopped, and a line has been established around the fire perimeter. The Florida Forest Service will remain on the scene to strengthen lines for the next several hours and continue to monitor the area tomorrow morning, Thursday, March 20."
Officials report the fire started between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. It spread rapidly, carrying over into the evening.
Joe Zwierzchowski with Florida Fire Service says a fast response with fire crews from Pace, Jay and Allentown is what made the containment a success.
While the brush fire may have come as a surprise to residents in the area, Zwierzchowski says this is to be expected for the spring season.
"We are in the peak of Florida's wildfire season," said Zwierzchowski. "You know, our neighbors to the north and Alabama have already experienced several outbreaks of wildfires within the past several weeks. We are starting to see increased fire activity in our area, and this what happens in mid March.
Zwierzchowski says they are days away from 100 % containment.
"So we're gonna monitor it for the next several days, keep a close eye on it, make sure it doesn't go anywhere, and that containment will increase little by little over the next couple of days, until we're totally confident that this fire is up."
They have not yet determined what started the fire.
ORIGINAL STORY - WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON
SANTA ROSA COUNTY, Fla. -- Crews are working to extinguish a 200-acre brush fire in Jay Wednesday evening, according to Santa Rosa County Emergency Management.
A viewer shared multiple videos of the brush fire as they were driving through the area.
Courtesy Brandy Marie Griswold
The following roadways are closed:
The Santa Rosa County Sheriff's Office says residents in the area were given evacuation orders.
Florida Forest Service says five tractor plow units are on scene, as well as brush trucks. They're currently doing structure protection operations in the area.
They say additional county resources are there on scene, too.
It is unknown as to how many homes are impacted at the time. You're asked to avoid driving in this area as crews try to put out the fire.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.