Over the weekend, lightning strikes ignited at least two wildfires near the Kennedy Space Center, sending massive plumes of smoke into the air. Officials estimate that nearly 700 acres have already burned, with fire crews working to contain the flames.
The fires are burning within the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, an area located near NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Despite the proximity, NASA officials have confirmed that no buildings, launch pads, or visitor areasare currently at risk.
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the region experienced heavy lightning activity on Sunday but received minimal rainfall, creating the perfect conditions for wildfires to ignite. Fire crews responded around 11 a.m. Monday, quickly taking control of both fires.
FOX 35 Storm Team Meteorologist Noah Bergren reported seeing a large smoke plume Monday night, noting that fire risk was extremely high following the recent cold front and severe weather outbreak. Bergren observed that the smoke extended more than 30 miles offshore and that flames appeared to be shooting into the air at times.
The two wildfires have been named “Patrick” and “Savannahs” by the National Interagency Fire Center. Crews are utilizing a combination of ground and aerial resources, including:
- Three dozers
- Three brush trucks
- Three UTVs
- One helicopter
- 22 personnel
Kennedy Space Center Fire Services initially responded to a fire near the Tel-IV area at the southern end of the facility but determined that no NASA structures were threatened. The firefighting operation was then handed over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, which continues to monitor and combat the flames.
As of now, the wildfires remain active, with officials working to prevent further spread amid gusty winds and extremely dry conditions.
On March 12, SpaceX successfully launched the Crew-10 mission from Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:48 p.m. EST. The mission’s primary objective is to transport four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) and facilitate the return of two NASA astronauts, Suni Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, who have been aboard the ISS since June 2024 due to technical issues with their original return vehicle.
