The Air We Breathe: Escambia Fire Turns To High Tech Equipment, Wireless Alerts During Sulfur Plant Fire
January 9, 2023
While a fire burned at an Atmore sulfur plant Friday, a hazardous materials team and other resources from Escambia County (Florida) Fire Rescue responded.
Light winds pushed the smoke plume to the south, toward Florida.
Escambia, Florida, firefighters used specialized equipment to test the air quality in Florida south of the Tiger Sul plant, which is located in Atmore Industrial Park about 1.5 miles north of the Alabama-Florida state line. There were no problems found.
According to Escambia County Emergency Manager Travis Tompkins, Florida residents within five miles received an emergency alert on their cell phones. The alert advised of the situation, but there was no shelter in place order issued.
The alerts were sent using the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS) program created by FEMA. IPAWS allows federal, state or local authorities to send geographically-targeted wireless emergency alerts (WEA) — much like amber alerts and tornado warnings sent to phones.
ECFR’s monitoring equipment was also used on-site at the plant fire and in Alabama near the fire. Once the fire was under control, there were no significant dangerous gasses detected.
RELATED STORY: Fire Burns At Atmore Sulfur Plant; Florida Residents Alerted
Pictured: An Escambia County (Florida) Fire Rescue hazardous materials team stagged at the Piggly Wiggly on Highway 97 in Davisville, just yards from Atmore, during a sulfur plant fire Friday. They used specialized equipment to test the air quality. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Sunny For The Week – Except Thursday Will Be Our Rainy Day
January 9, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Verizon: Customers In Century Area May Experience Service Disruptions This Week
January 9, 2023
Over about the next week, Verizon Wireless customers in the Century area may experience service disruptions, according to the company.
“Verizon is upgrading our network in the Century area to make sure our customers in the area continue to have the excellent experience they’ve come to expect from Verizon,” Andy Choi, Verizon communications manager, told NorthEscambia.com. “ We’re notifying customers in the spirit of transparency, because we know our customers rely on the Verizon network.”
Choi said he was unable to provide specific details on what part of the network or service is being upgraded, nor could he be more specific on the potentially impacted area.
According to Verizon, the upgrade process could take a little longer than the anticipated week.
“While we will do our best to adhere to this schedule, it may shift out as much as two weeks due to factors outside of our control,” the company said.
Pictured: A Verizon tower in North Escambia. NorthEscambia.com file photo.
Lane Closures This Week On Highway 97 North Of Molino; Tuesday on Highway 99 In Beulah
January 9, 2023
According to the the Florida Department of Transportation, there will be lane closures this week on Highway 97 in Molino and Highway 99 in Beulah.
Motorists will encounter intermittent daytime lane closures on Highway 97 just north of Abromovich Lane Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. for routine utility maintenance. Abromovich Lane is just north of Molino Park Elementary School)
There will also be intermittent lane closures on Tuesday beginning at 9 a.m. on Highway 99 near Beulah Road for drainage operations.
The work is weather-dependent and may be delayed or rescheduled in the event of inclement weather.
Kristi Mims Is Jim Allen Elementary’s Teacher Of The Year
January 9, 2023
Kristi Mims was named the Jim Allen Elementary School Teacher of the Year. She teaches pre-kindergarten.
NorthEscambia.com spotlighting Teachers of the Year from the North Escambia area. The county’s overall teacher of the year will be named in late January.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
AAA: Gas Prices Declining Again After 32 Cent Spike
January 9, 2023
Florida gas prices are declining again after surging during in the past two weeks. The state average declined almost 2 cents per gallon over the weekend, but more discounts are likely on the way, AAA said.
“Gas prices soared in recent weeks, after winter storms caused temporary refinery outages,” said Mark Jenkins, Public Relations Manager for AAA – The Auto Club Group. “Last week, we saw fuel prices retreat again, as refinery activity ramped back up and the market turned bearish on global fuel demand, due to rising cases of Covid-19 in China. Retail prices could drop 10-20 cents in the coming weeks, unless oil prices suddenly rebound.”
On Sunday, the state average was $3.30 per gallon. That’s 10 cents more than this time last year. In 2022, gas prices reached a new record high of $4.89 per gallon in June. The 2022 low was set on December 26th at $2.99 per gallon.
A North Escambia low of $2.94 could be found on Muscogee Road in Cantonment. In Pensacola, a gallon of gas was as low as $2.83 a the warehouse clubs.
NorthEscambia.com photo.
Dawn Bechtol Is McArthur Elementary School Teacher Of The Year
January 8, 2023
The McArthur Elementary School Teacher of the Year is Dawn Bechtol. She is an ESE teacher at the school. Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Just A Few Scattered Light Showers Tonight, Sunny On Monday
January 8, 2023
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Here is your official North Escambia area forecast:
Tonight: A 20 percent chance of showers before 9pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 44. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph in the evening.
Monday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 61. North wind 5 to 10 mph.
Monday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 39. Calm wind becoming north around 5 mph.
Tuesday: Sunny, with a high near 67. Calm wind becoming southwest around 5 mph.
Tuesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 47. South wind around 5 mph becoming calm.
Wednesday: Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Light south wind becoming southwest 5 to 10 mph in the morning.
Wednesday Night: Mostly cloudy, with a low around 59. South wind around 5 mph.
Thursday: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers and possibly a thunderstorm after noon. High near 72. Southwest wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.
Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers before midnight. Partly cloudy, with a low around 44.
Friday: Sunny, with a high near 55.
Friday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 35.
Saturday: Sunny, with a high near 54.
Mega Millions At $1.1 Billion For Tuesday, Third Largest Jackpot In Game History
January 8, 2023
For the fourth time in a little more than four years, the Mega Millions jackpot has topped $1 billion
After no ticket matched all six numbers drawn Friday night, the jackpot for the next drawing on Tuesday, January 10, is currently estimated at $1.1 billion ($568.7 million cash). If won at that amount, it would be the third largest jackpot in the game’s history.
The numbers from Friday night were white balls 3, 20, 46, 59 and 63, plus the gold Mega Ball 13.
The only Mega Millions jackpots larger than Tuesday’s estimated $1.1 billion are the game’s record of $1.537 billion, won in South Carolina on October 23, 2018, and $1.337 billion won in Illinois last July 29.
Century To Discuss Plan To Prevent Customer Contamination Of Drinking Water
January 8, 2023
The Century Town Council will hold a workshop Tuesday to discuss a Cross Connection Control Plan.
The plan, which is required by the state, seeks to protect drinking water from contamination caused by leaks or other connections on the customer side of town water meters.
Florida law required that the adopted policy be enforced, including the temporary or permanent disconnection of water service connections that fail to meet the regulatory requirements.
The workshop meeting with the council and engineer Dale Long will take place at 7 p.m. at town hall. The public is invited.