MALABAR, Fla. (Map, News) - Wildfires burning in central Florida have forced hundreds of residents to evacuate their homes.

Officials say high winds, dry conditions and high temperatures are expected to fuel the flames Monday in Volusia and Brevard counties, where the fires have burned thousands of acres.

Daytona Beach spokeswoman Susan Cerbone says about 500 homes in the northwest part of that city have been evacuated. Authorities have also closed about three miles of LPGA Boulevard through the city.

Hundreds more homes in neighboring Brevard County are also under evacuation.

Forestry officials say two fires burning in Cocoa Beach have been contained, but a fire in Malabar has grown to 2,100 acres and continues to threaten homes.

The cause of the fires is under investigation.

Comments from Examiner Readers

9:00 AM MST on Wed., May. 14, 2008 re: "Police arrest man in connection in Florida wildfires"

Examiner Reader said:
Where is the fire now? I need to know if our relatives are in danger or not.

Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

9:14 AM MST on Sun., Sep. 2, 2007 re: "Threatening Idaho Fire Nearly Surrounded"

Examiner Reader said:
Too bad the BLM hands have been tied for the past 30 yrs. We could have had appropriate, controlled burns periodically and prevented the monster fires. Thanks to weak politics cowing down to enviro-fanatics we lost our ability to responsibly manage our forests. There probably isn't anybody around who even knows how to do a controlled burn any more and the Native Americans probably won't teach us again...hell, maybe they don't remember how either.

135 agree | 107 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

5:53 PM MST on Tue., Aug. 7, 2007 re: "Wind Top Concern for Mont. Firefighters"

Examiner Reader said:
Hello, I have family on HWY 2 in Marion, How safe are they at this time ---Tuesday 6pm -- in respect to the fires in MONTANA, Thank you

162 agree | 131 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:40 AM MST on Thu., Jun. 28, 2007 re: "More Strong Wind Could Drive Tahoe Fire"

Examiner Reader said:
The strategy should be to get the fire out, instead of waiting by the properties of individuals, as there is an awful lot of forest that can potentially wipe out a wider area than you might think. The wrong type of trees, along with diseased and dead trees which maintenance have not finished removing- have replaced the fire-resistant Redwoods and original, native trees that once were there, but got removed when the Gold rRsh was needing timber. This wind can make it hard to stop, so this would be the way to go. One man saved his home himself by staying in- so valuable time is being wasted for the effort to keep clearing defensible space around, by the homeowners themselves, while we all wait for the fire to form hot-spots. Air quality is down, and people need to be urged to go out of the area if all is secured and readied of their situation.

235 agree | 199 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

8:02 PM MST on Thu., May. 31, 2007 re: "Strong Wind Complicates Wildfire Fight"

Rhonda Allen said:
Where are the road closings? How do I find out? We are taking a trip down to Orlando and need to know the best route to take from Montgomery, Al.

209 agree | 225 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

4:12 AM MST on Tue., May. 15, 2007 re: "Strong Wind Complicates Wildfire Fight"

Examiner Reader said:
what is happening to the wildlife in the Florida fires???No one is covering that part of the story. Dorothy Barnes, Macclenny

312 agree | 310 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

7:04 PM MST on Sun., May. 13, 2007 re: "Big Georgia Fire Heads Into Florida"

Examiner Reader said:
SMOKE FROM FLORIDA & GEORGIA REACHES NEW PROVIDENCE IN THE BAHAMAS.

264 agree | 276 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate

12:02 PM MST on Sun., May. 13, 2007 re: "Big Georgia Fire Heads Into Florida"

Examiner Reader said:
In reguards to the comment about the fire threatening a small town Taylor I want you to be aware that Taylor County is much more than what you think. We have alot more than one store and very good cell phone coverage. Maybe you should do more research on things before you print things you dont know anything about. There are thousands of residents in Taylor and Im sure I speak for all of them when I tell you that because you may have never heard of Taylor doesnt mean its a deserted town.

262 agree | 278 disagree
Vote on this comment: I agree or I disagree

Report as inappropriate