Fla. wildfire has destroyed almost 17,000 acres

SCOTTSMOOR, Fla. – Forestry officials say it will likely take at least a week to fully contain a central Florida wildfire that's been burning since Monday.

Measurements taken by the Florida Division of Forestry on Thursday show the fire has burned 16,715 acres, or 26 square miles, in Volusia and Brevard counties.

Meanwhile, health officials in Brevard County say anyone who is sensitive to smoke should stay indoors. Smoke from the fire has also caused intermittent closures of sections of Interstate 95 since Monday.

Florida's first significant wildfire of the season is burning about 25 miles north of the Kennedy Space Center. NASA has said operations there are not affected.

Parts of Florida have seen their driest few months in nearly 80 years.

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Information from: Florida Today, http://www.floridatoday.com