New Tampa residents woke to unusually thick smoke conditions Wednesday morning, prompting community-wide concerns about a possible wildfire in the area. Multiple reports describe “very thick and heavy smoke for miles” particularly concentrated along Cross Creek and Bruce B. Downs.
“I’ve never seen it like this in New Tampa,” reported one local resident who first noticed the smoke during their morning commute. The conditions were severe enough to reduce visibility and prompt questions about whether Flatwoods Park or the nearby State Park was experiencing an active fire.
According to community information shared on neighborhood apps, the source appears to be a brush fire in the vicinity of Flatwoods Park, specifically in the wooded area east of Interstate 75 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. Satellite data from NASA’s Fire Information for Resource Management System (FIRMS) confirms thermal activity in this region over the past 24 hours.
Despite the significant smoke presence, residents expressed confusion about the lack of official communication. Some neighborhood app users suggested it might be a controlled burn, stating “it started in the middle of the night,” but noted the absence of any government announcements typical for prescribed burns in the area.
“I cannot find any press releases about a prescribed burn,” noted one concerned resident who had been monitoring official channels for information.
Local authorities have yet to issue formal statements about the nature of the fire, its containment status, or potential air quality concerns for residents with respiratory conditions.
This is a developing situation, and residents are advised to monitor official county and emergency management channels for updates.