NOON UPDATE: A fire at a Poinciana nursery company, which broke out in the middle of the night around 2 a.m., appears contained, although fire officials continue to apply water to the smoldering scene near Poinciana Boulevard and John Young Parkway.
The substantial fire, which could be seen for miles, was burning at Nursery Supply Inc. in an outdoor area containing thousands of two-gallon plastic pots on pallets. The burning plastic created some concern to nearby schools and residences for fire officials as the blaze burned through the early morning and daybreak hours.
The fire was in a covered, outdoor area where the pots were put to keep them outside. No employees or others on site were reportedly hurt. The main building of the facility remains intact.
There is no indication yet on the cause of the fire; state fire marshals will be on scene to do a report.
6:30 A.M: A large fire is burning this morning at Nursery Supply Inc., off Poinciana Boulevard south of John Young Parkway. This is just north of Poinciana High School (about a half-mile) and just blocks from Renaissance Charter School at Poinciana. According to school officials, Poinciana High is operating as usual; we're working to get word from Renaissance, as that school will open after 8 a.m.
The Blackstone subdivision is about two-tenths of a mile south of the fire, but winds are out of the south, blowing any smoke north toward John Young. No evacuations have been issued at this time, fire officials have said.
According to firefighters' account, plastic pots and planters began burning in the middle of the night, sometime around 2 a.m. Firefighters from three agencies — Osceola Fire Rescue/EMS, Kissimmee Fire Department and Orange County Fire Rescue — are throwing thousands of gallons of water and working to contain and and have stopped it from spreading to a nearby grassy area and other buildings on the property, but it continues to burn, and may throughout the morning hours. Orange and Osceola County HAZMAT officials are on scene as the burning plastic could contribute to air quality issues in the area.
"We're doing air monitoring downrange," Osceola County Fire Rescue/EMS Deputy Chief Jon Haskett said. "We're not getting any signal that cause us to call for an evacuation; that could change. If you're living close to here with any breathing issues, I would stay inside (away from the smoke plume)."
Northbound traffic on Poinciana Boulevard toward John Young has been moving very slowly through the morning, but no roads are closed aside from Avenue A, where the nursery is located.
