I-275 Open, Gandy Still Closed After Brush Fire

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Update: The St. Petersburg Police Department announced at 10 p.m. Friday that Interstate 275 in the area of Gandy Boulevard had opened to traffic following a brush fire that also forced evacuations in a nearby community.

While I-275 had reopened, police said "Gandy will remain closed for several hours." The Florida Highway Patrol said it was likely the exits at Gandy and Gandy Boulevard would remain closed overnight.

Earlier: The St. Petersburg Police Department is reporting that a brush fire in the area of Interstate 275 and Gandy Boulevard has prompted evacuations in addition to road closings.

As of 6:42 p.m. Friday, police were reporting that "traffic continues to be closed in all directions at I-275 at Gandy Boulevard," according to an email from the agency. Closings are as follows, according to police: I-275 from 54th Avenue north to Gandy Boulevard. Gandy Boulevard from Ninth Street to 30th Street.

Residents from Village Green mobile home park have also been evacuated, the agency said.

"The fire poses challenges due to the wind and the lack of fire hydrants on the interstate," police wrote. "St.Pete fire and other fire crews using water tanks trucks to douse the flames, then refilling."

Sign up for the Patch newsletter and alerts!

Firefighters from multiple agencies have joined in the battle to extinguish the flames.

“Heavy winds have blown heavy smoke across the I-275 and Gandy Boulevard interchange,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Steve Gaskins wrote in an email sent earlier in the evening. “As a result, I-275 is closed in both directions as is Gandy Boulevard.”

St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman took to Twitter Friday night to urge people to avoid the Gandy/275 area.

One firefighter had been taken to a hospital for heat exhaustion, St. Petersburg Fire Rescue reported via Twitter. The firefighter, authorities reported, was later released.

Photos courtesy of the Florida Highway Patrol