A spark from a flat tire is believed to have caused a forest fire that burned approximately 50 acres Thursday in the Hopewell Community.

The blaze broke out sometime around noon at the intersection of Brooklyn and Creek Wood roads. It wasn’t immediately clear exactly how the fire started, but landowners said scrape marks from the vehicle could be plainly seen on the roadway.

At least two homes were threatened, and a host of volunteer fire departments responded to the scene, including Hopewell, Carolina and Loango.

Four officials from the Alabama Forestry Commission were also on hand with two bulldozers pulling fire lines. Fire fighters working for more than two hours to contain the fire.

The blaze was one of three that broke out during the day. Mike Kyser with AFC said the first, which was off U.S. Hwy 29 near Moore’s Auto Sales, burned approximately 6 acres; and the third, which was a woods fire, burned less than a tenth of an acre.

“It’s hot and dry outside,” Kyser said. “Covington County is situated between the two driest points in the state. The conditions are prime for fires.”

A spark from a tire in believed to be the cause of a fire that destroyed an estimated 1,300 acres in Escambia County last week.

District Forester Mike Older reminded residents that Gov. Robert Bentley has declared a drought emergency for the state and issued a burn ban statewide.