Forestry On Alert For Local Fires

April 22, 2017

Nearly two dozen firefighters and support personnel from the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center have been sent to other parts of the state to help fight the ever-increasing number of wildfires. With a reduced but adequate number of resources remaining to protect Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, officials have increased the Fire Readiness Level and temporarily suspended the issuance of burn authorizations as a precautionary step only. There are no burn bans in place.

“Our fire activity has been held in check because of overnight moisture and early morning fog,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for Blackwater. “We’re not seeing the number or size of fires that they are in other parts of the state so it’s safe to send some of our people out to help. With that said, we’re keeping the people and equipment we need here to respond to any fire we get in our coverage area.”

There currently are 104 active wildfires in the state of Florida that have burned more than 24,000 acres. Since January 1, 2017, there have been 1,627 fires for 80,335 acres. There are two fires in all of Blackwater currently for a total of 2.1 acres.

The Blackwater district includes Escambia and Santa Rosa counties.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News