Burning brush fires kept about 1,000 people from their homes early Monday, and the heavy smoke shut down parts of Interstate 95 between Daytona Beach and the Cape Canaveral area.

More than one home was destroyed and about 1,000 acres scorched by the fires that began Friday and flared up through the weekend, officials said.

"Our problem is no rain, dry conditions and strong winds," said Greg Dunn, a spokesman for the Division of Forestry.

Smoke from the fires blended with fog early Monday and blanketed I-95 in Brevard County, forcing the shut down of a 20-mile stretch of highway. Another 12 miles had already been shut down because of the smoke. Authorities blamed the low visibility for a five-vehicle crash that killed two people Sunday.

"The hint to motorists is don't use I-95 in the next couple of days if you don't have to. We want motorists to avoid 95 from Indian River County up to Jacksonville," said Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Kim Miller.

The flames were right behind Rita McSweeney's home when she fled her golf course community.