Wildfires Scorch Parts Of Florida's East Coast

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NBC NEWS- Interstate 95 in Brevard County has been closed again after reopening Monday morning. The fire has burned more than 2,100 acres so far and remains uncontained.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for much of the state's central Atlantic coast.

Hundreds of homes remain evacuated as firefighters continue to struggle to get the blazes under control, and experts say these blazes may be a sign of what's to come across the country this year.

One blaze, in Daytona Beach's LPGA International area has grown to 800 acres as of Monday afternoon.

As Florida firefighters battled to stand their ground, the heat and high winds made it hard to keep flames under control.

More than 500 homes have been evacuated.

Others tried to stay, with some watering down roofs with hopes of saving their homes, but firefighters warned the continuing drought means flying embers could quickly jump fire lines and jeopardize lives.

"Literally everything out there is prime to burn," warned Timber Weller of the Florida State Division of Forestry.

Officials warn the nation could be in for one of the worst years on record for wildfires.

In California, devastated last fall by fires, dry, hot weather means some counties have declared an early start to this fire season...today instead of June.

In Colorado crews continue to battle wind whipped flames.

Back in Florida, where in a normal year the dry season would now be coming to an end, the fires are only fanning fears that there is nothing normal about the weather or the dangers this year.

Firefighters say they now suspect arson in several of those Florida wildfires. They are continuing to investigate.

Rich Rogers contributed to this story.

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