Ocala residents evacuated due to 500-acre brush fire

A brush fire in the Ocala National Forest has grown from a 40-50 acre fire to a 500-acre fire, according to the Florida Forest Service. Six homes have been destroyed in the Salt Springs Recreation area. The Ocala National Forest is located north of Orlando between the Ocklawaha and St. Johns Rivers. The fire jumped State Road 19, so that stretch of roadway is currently closed to traffic. Officials say windy conditions caused the fire to spread quickly.