Reclaimed mine blocks Florida fire department

Tampa-Despite being blocked by rough terrain in an area previously mined for phosphate, fire officials said two blazes on state park land near the Alafia River south of Tampa in Hillsborough County were contained last week, according to local news reports. The land was owned by a predecessor of IMC, which merged with Cargill to form The Mosaic Co., according to Mosaic spokesman David Townsend. Fire officials said the two fires were approximately a half-mile apart and affected about 500 acres. The problem initially containing the blazes occurred when firefighters encountered a reclaimed phosphate mining area with high hills and deep gulches. Rain the following days helped extinguish any areas that were still smoldering.