A wildfire started in the pine and cypress forest southwest of Bunnell on Saturday, burning 130 acres, and consumed another 70 acres Sunday, creating Flagler County’s largest fire to date this season. The fire is still burning, Flagler County Fire Chief Don Petito said, but after jumping fire lines over the weekend, it appears to be holding within them for now.
Fire activity generally doesn’t kick up until afternoon, when nighttime humidity has dissipated and winds have kicked back up.
The fire is located about three miles southwest of Bunnell, roughly one mile west of State Road 11, south of Black Point Road, mostly on land used by Mud Muckers ATV park, which stretches for about 19,000 acres. The fire is nowhere near homes or other structures, Petito said. Nevertheless, residents south and west of Bunnell are urged to remain informed and vigilant about fire and wind conditions, which can shift quickly and dangerously.
The Route 11 fire has been keeping fire crews busy since Saturday, with two engines, two tankers and two woods trucks from Flagler County Fire Rescue battling it Saturday, along with a unit from the Bunnell Volunteer Fire Department and units of the Florida Division of Forestry, whose bulldozers are digging lines.
Flagler County Fire Flight, the emergency helicopter, was also in the air most of the day Saturday, dropping water on the fire. At noon, Flagler County Fire Flight was in the air again on a fire-reconnaissance mission. It flew over the Mud Muckers land, then over the Mondex and Flagler Estates.
“We’re hoping to get this rain they keep telling us we’re going to get,” Petito said. “I’ve got my eye on the radar but I don’t see anything coming yet.” Severely dry conditions have pushed the drought index in Flagler County to 478, out of a possible 800, with 800 signifying driest conditions and zero signifying saturated grounds. (See a full explanation of the drought index.)
No rain is in the forecast for much of the day. There is a less than 30 percent chance of scattered showers later.
Statewide so far this year, there’s been 1,090 wildfires in Florida. They’ve burned 20,431 acres, with serious fires in the region flaring up in Volusia County. Until Saturday, the most severe fire in Flagler County blazed up in Beverly Beach Thursday, where it damaged two beach-side homes and burned a few acres of palmetto brush around them, and just west of State Road A1A.
A prescribed burn started by the U.S. Parks Service last week at Faver-Dykes State Park, just north of the Flagler County line, also jumped its lines over the weekend, burning enough to shroud the northern area of the county (and the southern portion of St. Johns) in smoke. Flagler Fire Rescue is monitoring that fire, in case it crosses Pellicer Creek into Flagler County.
Just Hope says
Hope this isn’t a prelude from 98′
The grass crunches beneath your feet it’s so dry. We seriously need some rain.
FB Insider says
I wonder if Flagler Beach is again sending firefighters that aren’t wildland certified to that fire like they did earlier this year in their non-compliant “brush” truck.
Mr. Smith says
I wonder why you’re criticizing these men and women who are putting themselves in harm’s way to help people they don’t even know. I bet you’re quick to dial 911 when you have an emergency and need their help. Thank you to all the emergency service personnel that help us.
Michael says
As a State certified Wildland fire fighter tractor operator that was on this fire both days the fire being in such a remote area with poor water sources any and all resources that our county or city can provide to assist us can make or break success. Please remember with all outdoor activities cooking,campfires,fireworks be safe so we still have those outdoors to enjoy. Thanks.
For more info on Wildfire safety visit.
http://www.floridaforestservice.com
Anonymous says
Not criticizing them, just saying their poor leadership is sending men and women into harms way who aren’t properly trained and CERTIFIED to handle such an emergency. It endangers themselves and you, Mr. Smith the public. I am tremendously grateful for these men and women but I wouldn’t chose a heart surgeon who isn’t licensed and trained to perform such an operation; would you?
Flagler freshmen says
FB insider, What is not compliant about Flagler Beach’s brush truck, as any fire truck sitting in a fire station must be compliant to meet the NFPA 1906 standards for fire apparatus.