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Smoke From A Not So Distant Fire Updated 5/8

Fourteen miles from the Century 21 Sundance Pelican Bay office and twelve miles from where Steve and I live there is a wildfire burning on the border of the Volusia and Flagler County lines.

(Graphic courtesy of the Daytona News Journal)

The smoke from the fire can cover our county depending on the wind. On Thursday and Friday it was so thick it burned our eyes, we could smell and taste it fourteen miles away. In the afternoon the seabreeze picked up and blew the smoke away.

Friday afternoon Governor Charlie Christ declared a State of Emergency which allows the National Guard to come in and assist in the fire fighting efforts, it also calls home the fire fighters who have been in Georgia helping fight the huge blaze there on the border of the Georgia and Florida state lines that has claimed over 65,000 acres.

The fire started on Tuesday, it was 100 acres. By Wednesday it had grown to 1,500 acres, Friday 3,500 acres but no homes were in danger. As of this morning it has burned 5,500 acres and is only 40% contained. Fire officials believe some kind of vehicle started this fire, I know people like to like to go 4 wheeling out there, but to be fair it could have been any type of vehicle.

Right now it is in a swampy area which is hindering efforts to fight it. Because of the many downed trees from our 2004 hurricanes and the drought conditions of this year it has plenty of fuel. The heavy equipment can not get in to the area due to the way the swamps dry out on top but stay wet below the dry ground.

We have a front due to come through today with a change in the wind direction, that is expected to blow the fire south towards a populated area on either side of SR40. The sheriff is now telling people to pack their belongings and prepare to be evacuated.

While reading the paper yesterday I got a little fired up, the headline on one story read, Blaze Prompts Burn Ban. Ok, we now have this huge fire so only now Flagler County decides to place a burn ban, why didn't they do this a month ago? Back on March 25^th I wrote Is Volusia County Under A Burn Ban? I Think We Should Be.. Please don't tell me I'm smarter then some of our elected officials. I still don't know if Volusia County has a burn ban in place or not, (I hope they do) but I'm doing my part not to start a fire.

We have Memorial Day Weekend coming up, a huge camping weekend here in Florida, I hope everyone is extra careful this year and pays attention the the park rules and rangers and enjoys their camping holiday. Lets make it a safe one for everyone, ok?

Here are the statistics of our fire as of today courtesy of the Daytona News Journal

Acres: 5,500

Contained: 40 percent

Firefighters: 180

Bulldozers: 33

Fire engines: 20

Aircraft: 5

Total fires statewide: 160 on 12,460 acres

(Friday our fires were 123 statewide what does that tell you?)

UPDATE 5/8/2007

OUR AIRPORT ROAD FIRE IS ONLY SMOKING AS OF TODAY 5/8 DESPITE OUR HIGH WINDS. FIREFIGHTERS SET 300 SURROUNDING ACRES ON A CONTROLED BURN (DARING MOVE CONSIDERING THE WINDS) AND HAVE SOMEHOW MANAGED TO CONTAIN IT. THE FIRE IS NOT OFFICIALLY OUT AND CAN SPARK UP AGAIN BUT OFFICIALS ARE OPTIMISTIC. AS OF SATURDAY THE FIRE CONSUMED 6,500 ACRES PLUS THE EXTRA 300 ACRES THE FIRE FIGHTERS SET. NO MORE HAS BEEN BURNED SINCE SATURDAY'S RAIN.

RESIDENTS IN THE AREA ARE FEEDING THE FIREFIGHTERS THAT WERE IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS AS A WAY OF THANKING THEM FOR KEEPING THEIR HOMES AND FARMS SAFE.

I'VE ALSO JUST LEARNED OF A BIGGER FIRE NEAR THE CITY OF WALDO THAT IS IN 3 COUNTIES, ALACHUA, BRADFORD AND CLAY AND HAS CONSUMED OVER 16,000 ACRES. THIS MAY BE THE SMOKE THAT THE FOLKS IN OCALA ARE EXPERIENCING.

LAKE COUNTY HAS 2 SMALLER WILD FIRES, 1 1,600 ACRES, THE OTHER 850 ACRES.

I PRAY EVERYONE IS SAFE IN THOSE AREAS.

Posted by Lysa Napolitano, Call Coordinator ~ Century 21 Sundance on 05/07/2007 11:52 PM

Comments (57)

wildfires, flagler fire, volusia county, flagler county, burn ban, daytona beach, daytona beach florida

This post has been included in Florida Information Volusia County, FL Information

57 Comments on Smoke From A Not So Distant Fire Updated 5/8

MAY

2007

Lysa...

Whoa...This is really bad this time. One of these days our entire state is going to catch fire.

TLW...ROAR!

Billie, I'm worried that we're going to have another year like 98, I believe the entire state was on fire that year, at least it seemed to be :(. I wasn't here then, but I remember watching it on TV and the folks in this area remember it like yesterday.

Lysa~

Having lived in Florida for many years before I relocated to Seattle and then to Asheville, I am familiar with the acrid air and the deep concern for life that comes with it... along with a question of where to look for the bright side in this fury.

Your reporting of the fires takes me back, in this moment , to my Florida days. In your article I find possibly the only bright side to a disaster in the detail and compassion your photo essay delivers.

Thank you.

Lysa,

In '98 I was living in Deltona, and the smoke was just as you described it. Also the fallling ash resembled snow. At one point they evacuated ALL of Flagler County. Quite scary, with Volusia County being directly south. You are right... that memory does not fade easily.

Lysa:

My family use to own property in Palm Coast. One of these fires did take out all the pines trees on several of our lots. But fire does have it place in the cycle of nature.

Lysa, it's been on the news here every night. Must really be bad. Bill, I have to agree, fire is a cycle of nature. The area will rejuvinate. Hope it wasn't caused by "man".

Hi janeAnne, I guess the bright side is we live 12 miles east of the fire and are not in danger with this one.

Hi Al! Thanks for stopping by! Our broker has had a home in Flagler for 32 years, they didn't leave when they were told to evacuate, good thing. A corner of their home did catch fire, they were able to get it out quickly though.

Bill, yes you are right, fire does have it's cycle in nature. It's just scarey when it hits close to farms and homes. Steve and I were considering moving to Palm Coast, the homes are much newer and still much cheaper the Volusia, but in the end the money we would pay in gas to get to work, it wouldn't be worth it. Now with this fire season and the tall pines still abundant out there, I'm glad we've decided to stay in this county.

Wow.....is this all forest area?

Hi Gary, yes it is pretty bad, I'm amazed it's on your news! It's taken another 1000 acres since this am but we had a small storm today that helped slow it a bit. We now have tankers and firefighters from Jacksonville here too.

Sally, for now yes it is in a forest, swamp area, but with the winds switching direction it will head towards populated areas most likely tomorrow. We're expecting winds around 20mph I think.

Hi Lysa, I live in central Brevard County and when the wind is coming from the north we get the smoke all the way down here. In 98 it was so bad you couldnt go outside for more than a few minutes. And yeah about the burn ban. Remember, this is Florida, we are the most reactive state in the union. Why take action now when we can wait till it gets really bad, then we'll do something! Like Titusville, projected to be out of water by 2020. They are in the "talking" stage. No water restrictions, no action to curb water use, now, just talk. Good luck up there. We have a few small fires buring here tonight because of today's storm.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

We had a bad wild fire here in Las Vegas a little while ago. People were evacuated from their homes and they were calling in fire departments from the surrounding cities. I can't believe the number of fires you have there. -Charles

MAY

2007

Hi Terry, I wonder how the smoke will be today with this wind? I did finally find out unincorporated Volusia County has a burn ban and I think Brevard does too, I read 3 counties. I can't believe Titusville! Ormond Beach puts restrictions in effect. Thats nuts! Good luck down there, I hope your fires are out.

Hi Charles, unless we get a lot of rain soon it can get a lot worse. We have what they are calling a sub tropical system spinning off the coast that could bring our area some much needed rain, but also high winds. I don't remember hearing about your fire. I always hear about the ones in CA.

Lysa,

You must have been in Weston ..we just had that happening last week and the ash was all over my car.

Neal, had we been in Weston we would have called you, promise! Having ash on the car is too close for me, wow. Glad you're ok!

Lysa:

Rainy season is just around the corner. Maybe you can get a front with some moisture. When I lived in SW Florida this was the time of year where I always had mixed feelings. Temps are starting to inch toward the 90's and its the last of spring, but sometimes it was really dry and we needed rain. But when the rains come its goodbye spring and hello to six months of 90's and 70"s not to mention the wonderful hurricane season beginning June 1st.

Hi Bill, yes, rainy season could be right around the corner, or it could stay dry and miserable. I'm like you with the mixed feelings. But hey, it could be worse! I consider myself very lucky to live where I do. We've had a beautiful spring this year, great riding weather on the weekends. I can take the the heat of the summer as long as I have a/c to hide in so I can ride year round. We have to take the pleasant with the not so pleasant :)

Hey Lysa,

What a great update on fire. Love the pictures and maps.

Anna Thanks, hopefully the fire isn't getting worse, but these winds I'm sure aren't helping.

Lysa..very interesting post..Some how I don't think of Florida as being troubled by dry weather

Hi Lysa, we do have a smokey smell down here today, but no haze. I think its just so windy its blowing it right past us. Glad you are east of the fire though. Chances of getting a westerly wind that would blow it your way are slim this time of year. Fingers crossed the rainy season will start soon.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

Joan, isn't it amazing how a state almost completely surrounded by water can suffer from a drought? Sad but true.

Terry, I've not noticed a smoke smell yet today and no haze either. I've read there is a fire on my way home though small, 12 acres, but stubborn. I'm not worried my area will be affectedby either, however there are lots of farms near the big Flagler Fire I am concerned about. Fingers crossed, prayers prayed.

Did any of that Rain that we had yesterday come any where near this fire?

We had tropical storms watches here.

TLW...ROAR!

Hey Billie, yes, we did get about a inch of rain which also helped the life of the retardant they put down around the fire. Unfortunatley the winds were blowing at a steady 15 mph all day with some gusts at 30mph. I've not seen a new update placed in the news since this morning but the last I read we've now lost 6,500 acres.

MAY

2007

I amazed, I would have never thought of a swamp as a fire zone.

Hey Lysa, yes, it's really bad right now. I live in Pompano Beach, but I was reminded first hand of the fire situation here in FL this past weekend when I was traveling to Atlanta for a Wedding and was going North on 75...was greeted by lots of smoke in the air. Even here in S. FL, we've been under watering restrictions for at least the last month, so the rain this weekend was a welcome relief although I hear that it helped only a little bit with the fires...you mentioned the wind and there still wasn't enough rain to make a HUGE difference. I haven't had any ash problems, but those a bit West of me by ~30 minutes (like Neal and others that I know) are experiencing it. I hope this will be over soon....it's so awful to hear of the damage and possible damage due to the Fires. One of my Uncles has been with the U.S. Forestry Dept. since around 1983, so I also know how diffucult and dangerous this is for them. Best wishes with getting everything back to normal soon!!! Muah!

Lysa, wow, now that you mention it, I do remember your post about the burn ban. It's amazing that officials hadn't done that before. I hope they can get this under control without much more damage.

Vicki, Bless your Uncle! I'm glad you have water restricitions, we are in a bad way as far as that goes. I can imagine how bad the smoke was as you got near GA. We had the smoke here off and on from the GA fires for 2 weeks. The rains helped a bit in keeping our now named "Airport Road Fire" from spreading too much more. As of about 4AM the last I read it's burned 6,500 acres and is still staying in the woods. Since I posted this and after Saturday's storms we went up to 200 fires Statewide. Thanks for your wishes!

Randy, I too never thought of swamps drying up, but when we have a rain deficit I guess they do. Our swamps in this area are pretty shallow too from what I've seen, I've never been out to the area on fire, but I imagine they are shallow also.

Maggie, I guess I'll never cease to be amazed like you. With Camping Season just around the corner I hope and pray people are careful and remember 9 years ago. Burning embers can go pretty high from a campfire and it only takes one to land on a pine tree to start a fire like this one.

there's a fire burning right now in the arrowhead of Minnesota in the boundary waters. I hate hearing about fires, especially when caused by careless campers.

Lisa, I'm familier with the Boundry Waters, as a reservation agent we took the calls for reservations for camping there. I hope they contain it soon! I'm with you on the careless campers.

Moderators! Thanks for the feature! What a honor!

I plan on following this up, hopefully later today with more information.

Hello Lysa

I'm up here in Ocala & we get smoke from your fire & even some from way up in Georgia.

Before coming to Ocala I experienced the same thing while living in Maine, a huge wild fire in Canada. I woke uo one morning, saw the yard filled with smoke & figured the barn must be on fire so I called 911 only to be told the whole story.

Hi Joe, wow, you're getting our smoke huh? We're not seeing much of it right now with all the wind. It's almost like the fire is gone, but it's not.
Actually your Maine experience isn't uncommon, that happened a lot here when the GA fires started and we could smell the smoke.

Lysa-Wow great post! The photo's are quite real to us. Again today I smell the burning and am tired of looking at the foggy, smokey sky! Rain would help, but we need lots of it!

Thanks for keeping everyone updated on the blaze. That's certainly too close for comfort. Glad to hear reinforcements are in place.

Hey Midori, thanks, yes I smelled it a tiny bit today too. We may have a good soaking on the way!

Corey, You're welcome. I would have loved to get photos of the tankers dropping water but I figured the best thing I could do was stay away. I hope those guys get a break before having to go to the next one.

Sounds like SoCal. We call it "fire season".

Lysa, great pictures, unreal on the smoke cloud. I could look at that for a long time, it is very interesting, nice shots.

Lysa, our prayers are with you all. It's frustrating when our elected officials don't take what seems to be the correct steps to prevent such events. Please keep us posted!

MAY

2007

Hi John, We don't have the Santa Anna Winds and mountains like you do though that's the only difference. :)

Bob, thanks, that cloud could be seen for miles, it was surreal.

Ryan, you're right, and it drives me nuts when smokers throw lit butts out their windows when they know conditions are as dry as they are even without a burn ban. I may do a fire series since FL has so many big fires going right now.

We're suffering over here, too, Lysa. There has been over 400 acres in Bonita Springs, plus Lehigh, Golden Gate. I wish it would rain just a skosh.

Lysa...

I didn't have a chance to get over here yesterday but I thought you would want to know that between your fires and the fire on I-75...

Dundee is now engulfed in smoke. As you know we are located on top of the Ridge. Our usual visibility is three miles or so.

I can barely see a mile right now. It's really really bad.

TLW...ROAR!

Chris, the state of Florida as a whole is suffering at this point, I hate to say it but we need a tropical depression with a few inches and no wind!

Hi TLW, Yep, the smoke is horrible today, I feel so bad for folks with breathing problems, and you are smack dab in the middle, I took photos of my drive into today, I'm going to try to post later this afternoon if I have time.

Everyone be safe!!

Here. I stepped outside and took a pics for you.

We can normally see the orange groves from where I am standing.

Can you see the smoke in the air here? It's pretty thick and coming in fast from the east and the west.

And you are nowhere near any fires, right? Dang!

This is what it is like 13 miles away at the Daytona Speedway when I drove by at 1030 this am

Whoa...

It's thick up there. That is going to really effect the Elderly and The Children. Personally I'm staying inside today.

Nope. I am nowhere near them. The wind is bringing the smoke right over the Ridge. Where it seems to be coming to a stand still.

The orange grove workers are still outside working and they are wearing those white oxygen masks on the faces. They don't look too happy today. The oranges can't wait so they have to work in spite of the smoke. I feel bad for them.

TLW...ROAR!

Anyone with respitory problems is being affected thruout the state :(. I hear it's starting to sprinkle to our north and our first named storm of the season Andrea? could possibly be moving onshore, this could be what the Doctor ordered!

Andrea, First Named Storm

Have ya'll seen the fire in LA? We're should be praying for those folks out west.

Thank you for that head's up on the storm. I really appreciated that.

Yup. California is on fire too. Praying I am and will continue to do so.

MAY

2007

Why do I still see idiots throwing lit cigarettes out their car windows? I wish I could report their license tags and they could be issued a fine! Tampa

Amy, I wish you could too, and I wish I could answer your question. It seems in our world now people just don't care and I really wish they would! With a burn ban in place there are fines for people doing just what you see. I just don't, as of yet, know how to check, or how to prove it.

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