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Firefighters Respond To Control 338 Acre Fire
March 28, 2013
A huge plume of smoke could be seen from across Escambia County Thursday afternoon due a prescribed burn near Saufley Field. The Northwest Florida Water Management District intended to burn about 338 acres within the Perdido River Water Management Area.
After a change in winds, Escambia County Fire Rescue was asked for assistance in monitoring the prescribed burn. Crews from five different Escambia County fire stations were dispatched to the scene to be on standby. A crew from the Navy’s fire department aboard NAS Pensacola was also dispatched.
Mid afternoon, Escambia County Fire Rescue state that no homes or businesses were threatened by the fire, and the situation was under control.
The Northwest Florida Water Management District’s burn-certified land managers conducted the burn, with help from Gulf Coastal Plain Ecosystem Partnership, Escambia County Natural Resources Division and other agencies.
Officials said prescribed fire is an effective and efficient land management tool used to restore and protect natural resources. Prescribed fires, which mimic naturally-occurring fires, reduce wildfire risk, enhance native vegetation and improve wildlife habitat.
Pictured top: A Forest Service Bell UH-1H helicopter was used to control the blaze. Pictured inset: A huge plume of some from the fire as seen from the 9 Mile Road area. NorthEscambia.com photos by Kristi Smith, click to enlarge.
Comments
9 Responses to “Firefighters Respond To Control 338 Acre Fire”
Betsy and No Excuses are correct: the Florida Forest Service should never have approved the burn, given the KNOWN dry conditions. Wait a bit and do the burn after it rains. They burned when there was a High Fire Danger.
They probably should have done this when it’s not so windy and the humidity is higher. But nonetheless, I’m glad they’re keeping the Longleaf pine habitat intact by burning.
Prescribed burns prevent greater damage later when a fire breaks out. Ashes obey the law of gravity. they fall. I am in the area affected by this, but I have seen what wildfires do when a prescribed burning program is not followed. Check the Yellowstone fires of 1988-89. Ask the people in California, Idaho, and other areas in the West where prescribed burns are not allowed if they would rather have a couple of days of irritation and discomfort or have their houses and everything they owned lost to a wildfire. They only had 15 minutes to remove precious valuables, including themselves, before fires engulfed their houses.
@Betsy: I am sure some of those who complain about smoke never fought a fire. Also complain while smoking tobacco. Does your house not have windows? Then close them!
Tony is right. What has burned, will not be an uncontrolled wildfire. I estimated 20 trips with helicopter. Weather forecasts are not perfect. The are well planned events, but all variables are hard to predict.
@ Tony,
I agree. However, it was my understanding that this fire got out of control and as of this posting, I am STILL breathing smoke from it at my place of work.
To betsy25,
Better to have a prescribed fire to reduce the fuel load now when there is plenty of firefighters around. Then have a wildfire and lose you home when fire season comes in and there are no firefighters to spare.
Amen Betsy! And this, after we were told not to burn because of the risk of starting an uncontrollable fire!
I work in this area and the “prescribed” burn that is under “control” has continued for 3 hours. It’s difficult to breathe indoors. Ash has been falling the entire time. Helicopters have been making nonstop trips to scoop up water. People are feeling sick, sneezing, coughing, and have itchy eyes. Thank you Northwest Florida Water Management!