The Florida Division of Forestry said on Monday that a wildfire has scorched some 240 hectares of the Withlacoochee State Forest in the central west part of the state.

By the end of Sunday, the fire was about 20 percent contained and firefighters hope that rain and higher humidity on Monday would slow the spread of the flames.

However, weather forecasters said fire conditions could be worse on Tuesday with winds increasing up to 32 kph and dryer air moving over the area.

(Xinhua News Agency March 24, 2009)