Edgewater

Courtesy graphic / The Volusia County map at left shows the fire locations with active wild fires in bright red and mop op fires in yellow.

DELAND -- The weekend thunderstorms were both a blessing and a curse in the fight against wild fires, bringing much needed rain, but with lightning strikes, igniting new blazes across Volusia County's rural areas.

Firefighters from multiple agencies and Division of Forestry are working 65 brush fires in Volusia County. There are six active fires and the remaining 59 fires are in the mop-up or monitoring stages. Lightning ignited 14 new fires Saturday.

"Personnel from county and city fire departments numbering 32, along with 15 apparatus, are battling six active fires totaling 2,871 acres," Volusia County spokeswoman Michelle Coats said.

There is a high likelihood that more lightning-caused fires will erupt as a result of thunderstorms that moved through the area Friday and Saturday. Predicted weather conditions for today have put fire officials on alert.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- The National Weather Service in Melbourne has issued a tornado warning for greater New Smyrna Beach and Port Orange until 6:30 p.m.

A dangerous cell is moving south from Daytona to New Smyrna Beach, unincorporated Samsula and Edgewater. There is a lot of ligtning and some reports of hail associated with this thunderstorm.

The warning is posted below:

Courtesy photos / With at least four active wild fires, including a large one in the Maytown Road area, shown here,  at  and at least half a dozen still simmering for several days, firefighters throughout Volusia County continue to work them this morning.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- James Arlotta loves to take his early run on the beach, but not this morning.

"The air is full of smoke," the 54-year-old beachside resident said. "I was out in the smoke all day yesterday and it bothered my eyes and breathing. So when I got up this morning and went outside the smoke was so thick I didn't think it would be healthy to run in."

Smoke is everywhere and driving is particularly hazardous on the interstates.

Firefighters from the Division of Forestry, Volusia County Fire Services, and additional task force teams of city firefighters, continue to work four active fires on this Thursday morning while monitoring several other fires closely, with mop up as needed, throughout Volusia County.

"There are no evacuations at this time," Volusia County spokeswoman Joanne Magley told NSBNews.net at 7:30 a.m.

Courtesy photos / Thanks to the Pastime Princess and the Dolpinview Restaurant, with a little assist from NSBNews.net and the power of the Internet, Tia Winn-McDonald of Edgewater, has enough money for her trip to Las Vegas to compete in the Miss Teen United States pageant July 7-15. She still needs to raise another $1,000 to cover personal expenses, but at least her trip is now covered.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- When Tia Winn-McDonald put out a plea on her Facebook page for help with fundraising for her upcoming trip to Las Vegas, NSBNews.net stepped up to the plate with a story posted just after midnight Sunday on its website and then posted a link to the story on Facebook with reminders Tuesday and Wednesday.

If you don’t think American people are resilient just turn on your television and watch the survivors of the recent tornadoes in Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, and other Midwest states wander through their devastated neighborhoods trying to identify which rubble pile used to be their home so they can try to find some of their belongings.

Courtesy photo / Tia McDonald poses with her coaches, Karin and David Jenkins of Applause Salon in New Smyrna Beach, after her May 1 crowning as "Miss Teen Florida United States at the Ormond Beach Performing Arts Center.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Tia Winn-McDonald is trying to raise money to pay for her travel expenses in Las Vegas for the Miss Teen United States pageant representing the Sunshine State.

You can help by purchasing a $25 ticket for an all-you-can-eat dinner and cruise on Friday aboard the Past Time Princess at Dolphin View Restaurant on Riverside Drive. Five dollars from each ticket sold will be donated for Tia's trip.

Courtesy photos / This small plane lands on its belly at an Edgewater landing strip after its gear malfunctions.

EDGEWATER -- Richard Lundgren had no earthly idea his single-engine plane's landing gear had malfunctioned until he actually landed the craft on its belly Friday morning at the Massey Ranch Airpark. He was not injured.

EDGEWATER -- A 12-year-old boy was transported by EVAC ambulance to Bert Fish Medical Center earlier today with serious injuries after the teen was struck by a motorist in a Toyota Echo in the 2700 block of Willow Oak Drive, Edgewater police said.

Police did not identify the victim or the motorist in the 3:24 p.m. Wednesday accident, but did say in a press release the injuries were serious enough that "traffic homicide investigators" were working the scene.

The 4:37 p.m. press release was not specific about the gender of the victim, but an Edgewater patrol supervisor confirmed for NSBNews.net late Wednesday night at the midnight hour that the victim was a boy.

Finally, I heard something uplifting on the news: It is predicted by those in the know that in the next five years the United States will experience a manufacturing renaissance.