Firefighters are still battling the brush fires here in Malabar and Palm Bay Florida today. There are also fires currently burning in the Cocoa Florida area.

The television press conferences have provided us with the following updates as of 10:30 this morning,

The updated figures are that there are 160 damaged homes.  The number of destroyed, completely uninhabitable homes has been adjusted from yesterday figures, down to 22 homes, totaling 3.6 million dollars in damage

In Brevard County there are over 10000 acres destroyed.  

The Osage fire has burned 3600 acres and is 50% contained.

The Lowery fire has burned 4800 acres and is 30% contained.

The Madden fire has burned 1400 acres.

The Jupiter fire has burned 190 acres.

Today, we are expected to get 19 mph wind gusts which could further ignite the fires.  And there is a 70% chance that based on the dry conditions we are experiencing new fires will start.

There has currently been over $9.6 million in damage.  6100 homes are without power, down from 12000 yesterday.  There are hundreds of power poles burned in the fire, thus they must be replaced in order to get power back up. All Palm Bay schools are closed again today. Parts of I-95 are expected to be shut down.

Everyone here in Brevard County knows of families that have been affected by this tragic event.  Families have evacuated to stay with friends. Families have lost their homes, their cars, and more.  We are hearing more stories about people that have lost everything they've owned and watched in horror as their home went up in flames within minutes!

One family in particular, the Van Fleets lived on 2 acres in Malabar for 28 years. He built the home himself.  On Mothers Day evening the fire was looming very close to their home.  He went on his roof to hose it down and watched as the fire jumped from tree to tree to tree, closer to his home.  He told his wife to get out. The fire jumped to their house and it was up in flames within minutes. It happened so fast, they got NOTHING out of their home AT ALL! She did not even have time to get her purse out of the house before they left!  Apparently they had no insurance on their home.

Families are being displaced and are in desperate need of donations. Anyone interested in helping victims of the fires or the firefighters can contact the The American Red Cross. They are collecting food, money and supplies. Donations can be made at Our Lady of Grace Church, 300 Malabar Road, Palm Bay. Grace Catholic Church in Palm Bay is also being used as a drop center.

We have just heard that within the past hour the suspected arsonist has been taken into custody. He has been transferred to the Palm Bay Community Hospital, with heavy security.

For additional information check our local newspaper at Florida Today.com