Wildfires strike Florida

PASCO, Fla., March 23 (UPI) -- Separate fires in Florida have scorched 600 acres of the Withlacoochee State Forest and 18 acres in Pasco, the state Division of Forestry said.

The fire in the Withlacoochee State Forest was about 20 percent contained Sunday with firefighters hoping rain and higher humidity forecast for Monday would slow the spread of the flames, reported The Tampa (Fla.) Tribune.

The fire in Pasco was about 80 percent contained Sunday.

Meteorologists said fire conditions were expected to worsen Tuesday with winds increasing up to 20 mph and dryer air moving over West Central Florida.