A large brush fire near Hernando Beach that caused mandatory evacuations to be issued on Sunday, March 29, 2026, is now 90% contained as Hernando County Fire Rescue (HCFR) and Pasco County Fire Rescue (PCFR) continue to fight the blaze. The fire started shortly after 5:30 pm in the Weeki Wachee Preserve and was moving rapidly west toward Shoal Line Boulevard, with high winds making it difficult to control.
Jay Corbin and his wife, who recently moved to Oleander Drive from North Carolina, said they were prepared for hurricanes but never thought they would have a brush fire come within a quarter mile of their house. “There was a two or three-hour period where we thought for sure we were going to end up having to leave and we were probably going to lose our house,” said Corbin. The couple even made plans with a neighbor to be picked up by boat if the situation got out of control. They stayed up all night, talking to about 100 neighbors and helping wet a tiki hut every 30 minutes to make sure embers didn’t ignite its roof.
The mandatory evacuation order was issued for all residences and businesses on the east side of Shoal Line Blvd. between Calienta Street and Osowaw Blvd. Businesses on the east side of Shoal Line Blvd. were threatened, leading to the evacuation. HCFR and the Florida Forest Service aggressively attacked the fire; however, strong winds drove the fire through multiple fire stops. Corbin praised his neighbors for staying calm and HCFR for its effective communication.
The fire has been 90% contained, with firefighters continuing to work on fully extinguishing the blaze. The cause of the fire has not been reported. For updates, residents can visit the Hernando County Fire Rescue website or follow local news sources.
Originally reported by Hernando Sun
Sources: Hernando Sun
