The dry and windy meteorological conditions fueled several wildfires across the central Atlantic coast of Florida on Monday. At least 50 homes burned as the wind-whipped fires leaped from rooftop to rooftop and four firefighters were injured as they fought the blaze, authorities said.

One of the firefighters was shocked by an electrical line in Palm Bay, while the other three were injured, but no details about their current state were released.

Hundreds of residents were forced to leave their homes and evacuate the region as Governor Charlie Crist declared a state of emergency.

The wildfire burned about 50 homes in Palm Bay in Brevard County and scorched 3,500 acres, or about 5 1/2 square miles. All 18 schools in Palm Bay will be closed on Tuesday according to Palm Bay Police Department spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez.

Police officers went from door to door and asked the residents of the endangered area to grab what they could and leave their homes immediately. Officers asked those who refused to leave to provide names of their next of kin, Martinez said.

"Every time I turn around another house is on fire. We don't have enough resources on our own to do a job like this," Martinez said according to The Washington Post.

Authorities said they believe an arsonist set as many as nine fires in Palm Bay.

"It's just bad," said Yvonne Martinez.

"The wind is causing the fire to jump a half a mile at a time."

The wildfires in Palm Bay erupted within 18 hours Sunday and formed a ring around the city. Strangely, most fires started near roads.  

"Somebody was very busy," said Palm Bay Fire Marshal Mike Couture.

There are reports of a suspicious vehicle in the area before the fires started burning on Sunday. Authorities offered a $10,000 reward for information that would lead to the capture of the suspect.