A fire that started about 3 p.m. Thursday (April 24) on the west side of Flagler County quickly grew from 7 to 250 acres in a matter of hours, reflecting the brittle conditions resulting from increasingly dry ground. The blaze, identified as the Cowpen 2 fire, is still burning but is 90 percent contained this morning.
There were no injuries, no structures were threatened and no evacuations. The fire is in an isolated part of western Flagler County, off County Road 305. Crews from the Florida Forest Service (Forestry), with the assistance of Flagler County Fire Rescue, worked all night to contain the fire.
The county declared a burn ban on Wednesday. Fire officials urge residents to be mindful of the ban and to call 911 to report smoke column sightings. The drought index in Flagler County is now 505 as an average (it is lower in the northern part of the county, higher in its south and west), increasing by six points overnight. The drought index is on an 800-point scale, with zero reflecting saturated grounds and 800 reflecting desert-like conditions. Wildfires tend to pop up more easily when the index is above 500. There is no rain in the forecast.
“We had the county’s UAS drone team out last night with their infrared imaging to help us get an exact picture of what this fire looks like, and to make a plan moving forward,” said Fire Chief Michael Tucker.
Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Brady Barry provided a Friday morning update.
“We will continue to assist Forestry with two attack (brush) trucks, one water tender, and one battalion,” Barry said. “Forestry, the lead agency, has the bulk of the equipment and resources.” Those resources include a Heavy Equipment Task Force with multiple bulldozers to cut fire lines, and an Engine Strike Team of six brush trucks.
FireFlight, the county’s emergency helicopter–originally acquired to spot and fight wildfires–on Thursday started dropping water on the fire. It was joined shortly thereafter by a Forestry helicopter out of Ocala and a fixed-wing aircraft. The fixed-wing plane monitored the two helicopters to ensure they kept a safe distance from each other as they traveled back and forth from the water-dipping location and the fire.
“That fixed wing is very important to the operation,” Barry said.
For now, the county has not requested the support of the Palm Coast Fire Department, Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill said. “All three agencies are in communication about the wildfire situation in the county and collaborated on the recommendation for the burn ban,” he said.
All fire officials urge residents to remember how dry it has been and to be diligent with fire safety habits. “The conditions are becoming favorable for rapid fire growth so this action will help,” Tucker said. “In addition to the ban on burning, remember that a good offense is the best defense. Clear the area around your house of anything that will go up in flames easily – including stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks, and dead, dry vegetation.”
The burn ban prohibits the following:
- Discharge/use of fireworks, sparklers, flares, or other items containing any “explosive compound”
- Open burning, including the use of fire pits and containers
- Outdoor cookers and grills unless continuously attended by an adult
- Throwing matches, cigarettes, or other burning materials from vehicles
- Parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grassy areas
The rule of thumb for taking personal protective measures, accepted by a variety of fire prevention agencies, including the National Fire Protection Association, is that all flammable items within 30 feet of a structure should be removed. Homeowners should clear roofs, eaves, gutters, wood decks and patios of leaves, needles, and other debris.
“Additionally, do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead grass or mulch,” Tucker said. “Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far, and tend to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves accumulate.”
Barbecue coals should be fully extinguished before adding them to garbage receptacles.
Dennis C Rathsam says
History tends to repeat itself…If we have another fire in P/ C, like the we had, Your gonna see a lot of burnt cars with families in side who couldn’t get out because of all the traffic! Only YOU can prevent forest fires!
B Slapper says
So according to a resident who lives in this area there were 2 ER
flight school planes flying above a helicopter that was trying
to contain this fire , what a great recipe for disaster and then
to mention smoke lessening the visibility. I guess you just can’t
make the s**t that happens down here up, county officials do your jobs
get your heads out of your a**es and start protecting your citizens
and first responders who have to deal with the dangers of
putting their lives on the line. There should be a ban on all flight
school activities at this time.
Retired says
I am the resident that B slapper is talking about. I went out to water my garden and saw the smoke just 1 street from my home In Daytona North. Called the sheriff to report. Within a few minutes We heard the fire truck and just minutes after that saw fireflight with the bambi bucket. I have great footage from my yard of the helicopter with the bucket. All the time the chopper is dumping water there are 2 idiot Embry Riddle planes flying over him repeatly. Im glad to hear about the fixed wing to keep the idoits away. This happend Tuesday afternoon. It burned a little over an acre and close to 3 homes. They were still here Wensday mopping up hotspots. Embry Riddle circles my house 100’s if tmes a day. My husband has emailed ceo Barry Butler about the planes the way he did the day of the fire. The cant stop harrasing us and are to dumb to stay away from a emergency situation.
Remember us says
There are so many places in western Flagler that could go up in flames no only because of the limited rainfall. There are so many properties in Daytona North that are overrun with garbage. Driving down Mahogany Boulevard there is a house on the corner of Holly Street that is literally a JUNKYARD. I know there were fires in the past but the county refuses to do anything about it.
Maybe if Leann Pennington, actually tours her district for a change she could see how Daytona North has become a SLUM she could have the county do something.
B Slapper says
Remember Us: It is absolutely SHAMEFUL that once these fools get
elected to their positions on topics that they platformed for they
turncoat on their constituents. Just like Pam Richardson who voted for
Black Hawk helicopters to add to the chaos of the student flights school
mills that inundate sections of PC communicates 24/7, and also the
airport overly ordinance that they recently voted on that will make
thousands of home values plummet according to zoning . They should have
done this in 2008 , they passed this without obtaining avigation easements
and no noise studies, the residents need to bring a class action law suit against
the county , the city of PC did not support this ordinance and they too need
to be involved to help their taxpayer base. When these county positions come
up for re eletions if the same people run again VOTE THEM OUT! Also show up
at the FCBOCC MEETINGS and invite Leann Pennington to your area , she is
a good representative for this area and will listen.
B Slapper says
Retired: Send that footage to the FAA , make a formal complaint and
go to a FCBOCC meeting and show it, not that that will make a difference
to them but put it on record with the county clerk, it is the county’s
responsibility to protect their citizens, that’s why they take an oath,
let’s see how they respond. I can’t understand how any elected official
can let this go by without some kind of action of reprimand, putting
lives in danger along with the students in the planes.