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By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published September 9, 2001
BAYPORT -- A swamp fire that temporarily closed traffic to Bayport and Pine Island on Friday night was still burning Saturday after it had blackened more than 30 acres.
The fire, reported at 5:35 p.m. Friday, is believed to have been a spinoff blaze from a fire that burned approximately 80 acres after a lightning strike Tuesday, said Ray Reid, duty officer with the state Division of Forestry.
The Friday night fire was centered in an area near the intersection of County Road 550 and Shoal Line Boulevard, about 1 mile west of U.S. 19. Reid said the fire primarily moved through palm trees and swamp grass above the water line.
Although some vehicles were sporadically allowed to pass, traffic leading into and out of the area of Bayport and Pine Island was mostly closed from about 5:45 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Forestry officials were still fighting the fire Saturday.