Brush fire prompts road closure in Westchase

TAMPA -- Deputies have blocked a portion of Hillsborough Avenue in Westchase as firefighters try to contain a small brush fire in the area.

Hillsborough Fire Rescue spokesman Ray Yeakley said Hillsborough is closed between Montague Street and Countryway Boulevard primarily due to visibility issues caused by smoke and wind.

The fire began about 4 p.m. and appears to have originated in a swampy wooded area. It does not pose a threat to nearby structures, Yeakley said.

He did say that elderly people and children who have respiratory issues should stay indoors for the time being.

- Rebecca Catalanello, Times staff writer