Scattered brush fires from Central to South Florida forced road closures and evacuations throughout the state on Monday, prompting Gov. Charlie Crist to declare a state of emergency to facilitate firefighting efforts statewide.

The largest fire in the state burned 3,000 acres in Malabar south of Melbourne, while in Daytona Beach, an 800-acre blaze forced evacuations.

At least a dozen homes were destroyed and hundreds of people evacuated in the fire zones.

Read the full story at MiamiHerald.com.