Two fires broke out off County Road 13, just west of U.S. 1, a small fire broke out on Colbert Lane, and another one off of Roberts Road.
Flagler
A Dissent on Canceling July 4 Fireworks: When Palm Coast Dictates to Flagler Beach
Canceling the fireworks in Town Center was justified, canceling them in Flagler Beach was not, argues Jeremy Mahoney, who sees the decision as another way of making Flagler Beach subservient to Palm Coast.
Fire Update: Lull Persists as
Fires Recede and Rain Approaches
Fire officials reported little but good news on Thursday as fire lines have been holding and chances of rain are increasing through the weekend. Audio of Thursday’s full news conference included.
Optimism Replacing Anxiety Over Flagler’s Wildfires, But Local Costs Keep Climbing
There’s been three successive days of gains on the Espanola fire and elsewhere, with rain in the weekend forecast. The Division of Forestry is not letting up, however, as it plans to maintain a deployment of more than 200 firefighters in Flagler County.
Adding to Mounting Legal Challenges for Scott, Public Employees Sue Over 3% Pension Hit
The class-action lawsuit is filed on behalf of 556,296 public employees, including state workers, teachers and police officers. It echoes frustrations that led the Flagler County School Board to talk lawsuit last week.
2 Firefighters Killed in N. Florida, Underscoring Dangers of Violent Flares on Contained Fires
The Blue Ribbon fire near Jasper was not large and had been declared contained, but the firefighters were reportedly overrun by a sudden flare-up as they were extending fire-lines–as DOF firefighters are doing every day on the Espanola fire in Flagler County.
Risk-Avoidance: July 4 Fireworks Canceled in Flagler Beach and Palm Coast’s Town Center
The Flagler County Commission canceled both fireworks shows, saying it would be too risky in fire-prone, drought conditions despite projected rains. The $30,000 worth of fireworks may be staged around Labor Day.
4 New Fires Saturday as Division of Forestry Escalates Battle and Tactics Against Espanola
The Division of Forestry now has more firefighting personnel in Flagler County than all the county’s and cities’ squads combined as DOF fights a make-or-break tactical battle against the Espanola fire.
Strong Thunderstorms and Excessive Lightning for Eastern Flagler–And Needed Rain
The National Weather Service has issued a severe weather advisory–involving excessive lightning and wind–for eastern Flagler County, including Palm Coast and Flagler Beach, in effect until 5 p.m. For the fires, it’s a double-edged sword.
Big Stand Against Espanola Fire at Threatened FPL Powerlines In Hopes of Halting Blaze
Damage to the 500Kv FPL lines would affect local electricity customers. Beyond the powerlines lay pine-tree farms doused in herbicide, which has dried out underbrush, making it easier to burn. And beyond that: U.S. 1.
Espanola Fire, Now Over 5,000 Acres, Breaks Out Again On Three Sides; Calm Elsewhere
The calm on Flagler’s smaller fires was deceptive as Espanola broke out on three sides, and fires by the dozens are breaking out across the state, further thinning resources. Drought conditions are worsening.
Black Hawks Up: Army National Guard Sends 3 Copters to Aid Flagler Firefighting Crews
The three crews logged eight hours on their first afternoon on the job Wednesday, putting their 780-gallon water buckets to work against the Espanola fire. They’re here on an open-ended mission.
Exceeding Goal, Carver Gym Auction Raises $5,370, With More On the Way
Total fund-raising is approaching $7,000 as the gym’s viability, as a community and youth center for South Bunnell, is ensured for at least several years.
Miracle on Sligo Mill Court: Homes Saved From Another Seminole Woods Eruption
The fire in Seminole Woods burst and ran after 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, coming within two feet of back porches and forcing evacuations of several homes. Firefighters managed to save every single one.
Rapid Response Beats Back Threat to Seminole Woods Homes; Espanola In New Breakout
Firefighters from every available agency, including the National Guard’s Black Hawk helicopters, were being summoned to battle the latest break-out at the White Eagle fire Wednesday afternoon.
“I Saw The Fires As I Was Flying In.” Rick Scott’s Embarrassing Lay-Over in Flagler
Rick Scott spent four and a half hours today hobnobbing with businessmen and chamber of commerce pals in Orlando, but couldn’t spare a moment for firemen on the line during his lightning visit to Flagler County.
“Saturate Us With Resources,” Fire Commanders Tell Rick Scott in Flagler County
Gov. Rick Scott’s drive-by visit through Flagler County Tuesday afternoon entailed a short briefing and a short press conference, but no visit to an actual fire, and no plans of one.
Number of Fires Up to 22 As Flagler,
Drenched in Smoke, Awaits Governor
Lightning started seven new fires in Flagler in the last two days, one of them in Bunnell’s Grand Reserve area, just west of Palm Coast. Fire officials are concerned about a “fluid” situation and uncooperative weather.
Gov. Scott Touring Flagler Fires at 4 p.m. After Declaring Emergency and Activating Guard
The long-awaited declaration of a state of emergency places state, regional and local resources under the authority of state emergency management and the Division of Forestry.
Flagler’s Economic Development Plans In the Air as County-Wide Summit Is Cancelled
Between the unfinished work of some committees and the divisive fallout from a proposed restructuring of Enterprise Flagler, what was to be the sixth summit since January is delayed to an uncertain date.
Supervisor of Elections Asks for 6.5% Budget Increase As Other County Budgets Fall
The sheriff’s budget is declining, the property appraiser’s is declining almost 9 percent, and county government has asked each department to cut 10 percent. The supervisor of elections’ exception led to new clashes with the county commission Monday.
Weather Service Issues Excessive Lightening Alert for Espanola Area, Heightening Fire Risks
Rain would be good, but only if it’s drenching and persistent. That’s not what this storm is bringing: fire-feeding wind and fire-starting lightning is also part of that storm.
Jacksonville and Clay Exit, Va. and Miss. Send Help As Espanola Fire Grows to 3,800 Acres
As winds begin to shift, bringing more drift smoke over Palm Coast, the Espanola fire keeps growing and out of county firefighters are rotating back home, though the Division of Forestry has taken over the Espanola fire.
At Second Chance Rescue Near Espanola Fire, 100 Animals Are Prepared for Evacuation
Debi Root’s Second Chance Rescue has pulled 30,000 animals from death row in 26 years. The Espanola fire near the State Road 100 operation is the latest challenge as Root lines up foster homes and volunteers should that becomes necessary.
Dog Pen Fire Jumps Its Lines, DOF Takes Over Espanola, Disaster Declaration Still Off
While most fires have been “behaving” in the past 24 to 36 hours, one fire jumped its lines today, and the 3,000-acre Espanola fire remains the big worry as winds will shift beginning Sunday, pushing smoke, and maybe fire, south and east.
How Flagler County Is Controlling The Public’s Right To Know The Latest On the Fires
On County Administrator Craig Coffey’s orders, the 9:30 a.m. daily “stakeholder’s meeting” on the fires, which includes all agencies and governments involved, politicians, and even members of the public, is closed to media.
Firefighter Hero-Worship and Floridians’ Hypocrisy: When Public Employees Save Lives
Flagler County and Florida residents are falling in heaps with praise for the same public and union employees they and the lawmakers they elected just finished bashing, insulting, demeaning and robbing. The disconnect is sickening.
Bunnell and Flagler Beach Angrily Denounce Enterprise Flagler’s Secretive “Done Deal”
A closed meeting restructuring Enterprise Flagler last week is unraveling into angry reactions by those left out, putting at risk half a year of economic development discussions and further miring the public-private partnership in controversy.
Duval, Clay, Volusia Helping Flagler; 18 Homes Pre-Evacuated; White Eagle Flaring Anew
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.
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.
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.
In a Victory for Flagler Boaters, FWC Rejects Its Staff’s Proposed Manatee Speed Zones
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission asked its staff to draw up a new compromise favoring Flagler County’s position on manatee speed zones on the Intracoastal, a significant defeat for manatee advocates.
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.
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.
Synchro Belles Prepare to Defend State Title For 6th Year in a Row with Sunday Exhibit
The Flagler County Synchro Belles, established in 2000, have been reigning state champions since 2006. The 32 girls, ages 9-18, will put on a two-hour exhibition at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club Sunday evening.
Counterpunch: Priceline and Travelocity Sue Over Tourist-Development Bed Taxes
The case is of interest to Flagler, whose Tourist Development Council has been aggressively pursuing avenues, including a lawsuit of its own, to compel online companies to pay their fair share of sales and bed taxes.
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.
Firefighters and 3 Helicopters Contain Fire Near White Eagle Saloon; US 1 Open
Firefighters are battling a large fire at just east of US1, trying to keep it from jumping the highway, as another fire near Espanola had grown to 320 acres.
Firefighters Battling Large, Twin Blazes Merging Into One Just West of Espanola
Flagler County firefighters and other dire departments were deployed against a 200-acre fire west of Espanola and north of the Mondex Monday evening, where two brush fires had joined into one large one.
Union Power in Prague: Flagler’s Firefighters World Champions for 2nd Time in 3 Years
Flagler paramedics’ Local 4337 team–Dennis Kline, Caryn Prather, Mike Pius, Jessie Hunter–competed against 27 teams from 17 countries, all of them from Europe.
Caution Urged as Lightning Triggers Fire in Palm Coast’s Central Park and 7 Other Places
The fire in Central Park was small and quickly out out, but other fires are burning across Flagler County. Fire chiefs are reminding residents of the burn ban in effect. That means no Memorial Day weekend bonfires.
Spotlight on Flagler Youth, the Annual Talent Show, Raises $1,000 for Carver Gym
Krystene Maceda’s solo performance of Chopin’s Waltz in C-sharp minor for piano won her the Entertainer of the Year award in the senior division, while Kayla Byrne won the honor in the junior division. Complete list of performers and winners.
Jack Hardin, Only Basketball Coach to Take Bulldogs to Final Four (Twice), Dies
Jack Hardin, who taught social science at Bunnell and FPC from the 1960s to the 1980s, had also been a Bunnell city commissioner and ran for school board against Herschel King in 1982.
Darius Giddens, Bunnell Son With Troubled Past, Dies After a Fight in Daytona
Darius Giddens, 21, was involved in a fight at Daytona Beach’s Coliseum Wednesday night, where he suffered a head injury. He died at 2 p.m. on Monday.
Facing $6 Million Hit, County Begins Long Budget Season as Tax Hike Appears Inevitable
County commissioners are unlikely to elicit sympathy from taxpayers—or from employees facing a 3 percent pay cut from new retirement-contribution requirements, and a third year without raises.
$150,000 for New Fields at Indian Trails Complex as Tourism and Sports Merge
Palm Coast is looking to expand the Indian Trails Sports Complex to attract more lacrosse and soccer tournaments to the area, and with them more visitors.
In Frying Heat and Sacks of Spuds, Bunnell Sculpts Itself Another Potato Festival
Mardy Gilyard was having a field day at Carver Gym, the french fires were the very best this side of Belgium, and potatoes of all sorts and in all shapes were the star of the day at Bunnell’s third annual Potato Festival.
Flagler Unemployment at 13.8%, Lowest Since 2008; Florida’s Improves to 10.8%
Flagler County’s labor force has shrunk by 2.5 over the past 12 months, a significant drop, while the number of employed residents has fallen by 1.5 percent, suggesting that job creation isn’t yet as evident as out-migration.
Bunnell Manager’s “God’s City Day” Proposal Yields to Tamer Prayer Proclamation
City Manager Armando Martinez wanted to declare every first Thursday of May “God’s City Day” in Bunnell. A proclamation on next Monday’s city commission agenda ties Bunnell to the National Day of Prayer every first Thursday in May.
Flagler Ranks Low in Latest Florida Forever Priorities, But Money Is Elusive Anyway
Only one project–the 4,200-acre Flagler County Blueway–made the list of the state Florida Forever priorities for preservation this year, and at a low ranking–with little to no money in the state fund anyway.