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Update: Firefighters Battle ‘Mountain’ Of Fire For Two Nights
April 14, 2019
UPDATE: Firefighters battled a “mountain” of fire fueled by high winds for hours Saturday and Sunday nights in Davisville.
Huge mounds of a cotton trash — a byproduct of the cotton ginning process — were burning from within at the West Florida Gin just west of Highway 97.
West Florida Gin Manager Robert Earl Godwin said the fire has been burning deep inside the mounds for about two months, but extinguishing them had proved difficult.
Winds of up to 30 mph with higher gusts Saturday night caused fires to grow through the mounds, some of which reach 20 feet high over an area over about 250 feet long. At times, one mound was spewing sparks from the top, giving it the appearance of a volcano (pictured below).
Firefighters from the Walnut Hill, McDavid and Century stations of Escambia Fire Rescue and the Atmore Fire Department worked for about two and a half hours Saturday night to extinguish the fires.
Escambia Fire Rescue responded to the West Florida Gin again Saturday night after the fire reflashed and worked for about three hours.
There were no buildings threatened and no injuries.
Pictured top: Fire burns inside a “mountain” of cotton trash Saturday night at the West Florida Gin. Pictured below: Another mound looks like a volcano as it spews sparks. Pictured bottom: Firefighters battle the fires. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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2 Responses to “Update: Firefighters Battle ‘Mountain’ Of Fire For Two Nights”
I’ll never forget the ___ whipping I got for causing a entire wagon of fresh picked cotton to burn-up, including everything except the metal parts of the wagon. My intent was to scare everyone in the field with my “homemade firecracker”. I made it using gun powder from shotgun shells, a strand from bailing rope, & newspaper. after lighting it I attempted to throw it under the wagon loaded with cotton waiting to be pulled to the gin. It landed in top of the cotton in the wagon. My ___ was beat with the closest thing available, a cotton stalk.
Thank you to All firemen and women for all you do for us! It’s a dangerous job, God Bless you and your family for sharing you with the community! Stay safe, all are in my Prayers!!!