Other counties’ crews should help relieve local firefighters and press the case for a declaration of a state of emergency. Pre-evacuation warnings affect the western portion of Flagler, north of S.R. 100.
Cops/Courts
Video Tour: Lt. Richard Bennett Takes You Into the Heart of the Espanola Fire
Lt. Richard Bennett is the Flagler County Fire Department’s operations chief, overseeing all fires. He describes and explains the extent of the Espanola fire and what firefighters have been doing to try to stay ahead of it.
Hawking Stolen iPod on Craig’s List Leads to Charges Against 3 Palm Coast Teens
Charges stem from a May 26 burglary of a vehicle on Palm Coast’s Fernon Lane. The iPod in question had been part of a swap with an unsuspecting recipient, who then advertised the item online.
Flagler Fires: New 70-Acre Blaze Northwest of Palm Coast, 3 in Southwest, Espanola Billows
The 70-acre late-afternoon blaze northwest of Palm Coast, beyond Hargrove Grade, was contained by evening, but three fires in the southwest are burning anew, and Espanola is approaching 2,000 acres.
Day Ends With a New Fire Near CR305 As Dangers Mount and Devastation Sprawls
The Espanola fire has grown to 1,500 acres, with little stopping it from doubling in size soon. By Monday evening, a new, 70-acre fire had exploded past Lake Disston on CR305, further straining limited firefighters’ resources. A complete roundup of Flagler’s forest fires and a photo gallery.
Florida Board Of Medicine Clears Dr. Mark Seldes, a Convicted Rapist, to Practice Again
Mark Seldes of Tampa was an Air Force major and flight surgeon in South Korea when he raped a civilian coworker after she’d taken a sleeping pill. The Florida Board of Medicine voted 7-3 to let him practice again.
Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Ensures Safe Birth Of a Hurried Baby at a Palm Coast Home
“I went to go get the cell phone, and then she said she felt the head pop out,” the baby’s father said, quoting the baby’s mother. Flagler Sheriff’s Deputy Erik Pedersen made sure the baby was breathing before paramedics transported the family to Ormond Memorial early Thursday morning.
Fires Update: 2 Big Blazes Are Doubling in Size–Intentionally–as Flagler Requests Help
Close to a dozen fires are burning or being monitored in Flagler County as the Division of Forestry prepares to “backburn” larger fires to tame them. Flagler is requesting more boots on the ground. Expect more smoke.
Flagler Fires Update: White Eagle Flares, Espanola Persists, A Dozen Others Puff On
County, city and state crews are weary, five serious fires and several lesser ones continue to burn in Flagler County, but so far no structures have been damaged nor any firefighters or civilians injured. A complete run-down of the fires.
The Live Crime Blotter, May 16-30, 2011
A burglary at the Imagine School work site, a woman flees and eludes a cop all the way to her home, a dog licks a cop and trouble follows, a long list of larcenies from unlocked cars, and more.