- April 19, 2024
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Following is adapted from a release from Flagler County, plus reporting from the Palm Coast Observer:
Fires keep Flagler County crews busy
Flagler County firefighters used a day of muggy weather and a few drops of rain to catch up on some 14 active fires in the county.
“Between Flagler and Volusia County, we have 56 fires and there are 20 more in St. Johns County,” Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said Wednesday. “We have fire crews from Palm Coast, Bunnell, Flagler Beach, Rayonier and Flagler County Public Works assisting us out here working the fires.”
The White Eagle Fire which flared up Tuesday afternoon threatening homes in the community of Korona along U.S. 1 was enveloped in a smoky haze Wednesday afternoon as firefighters poured water on areas close to homes. U.S. 1 was shut down Tuesday evening as smoke and flames darkened the roadway and visibility dropped to zero.
According to Bunnell District Division of Forestry Pilot Liege Higginbotham, it was a 60-acre. Palm Coast Fire Chief Mike Beadle said firefighters have to keep a close eye on the fire for days afterward, because a burning ember can be carried on the wind for up to one mile and start another fire, which happened Wednesday, when part of the Strickland property across U.S. 1 caught fire.
Below, click on the video for footage of the burned palmetto stumps and slash pines in that area.
“We have an extra shift on duty today,” Petito said, “Just to keep up with the fires. Something like this (the White Eagle Fire) pops up and we had to pull people off other fires because homes were being threatened. Now today we have to play catch up with the other fires.”
Petito is hoping for a lull in the action and no new fires that would spread the army of men and women fighting the fires any thinner. On Tuesday, two helicopters from the Division of Forestry, along with Flagler County’s FireFlight, assisted in holding back the White Eagle Fire. Wednesday, slow and deliberate ground work was being done to tamp out the smoldering ground around homes.
The following is a list of the fires in Flagler County and their general locations, updated Wednesday, June 1. “Contained” means the fire is within plowed lines but it doesn’t mean the fire is out:
White Eagle Fire
Reported 5/31/11
At U.S. 1 in Korona
Under control; no structures being threatened at this time; 20 acres.
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue, Palm Coast on the scene.
Road 78 Fire
Reported 5/30/11
West of the Old Brick Road and north of S.R. 100
Not contained; actively being worked; 330 plus acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue working the fire
County Line Fire
Reported 5/28/11
North of S.R.100 near the Flagler Putnam County line.
Contained; .01 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler/ County Fire Rescue monitoring
Strickland Fire
Reported 5/28/11
West of U.S. 1 and Favoretta
Contained; 7 acres
Division of Forestry and Bunnell Fire Department mopping up
City Plaza Fire
Reported 5/27/11
South of Royal Palms Parkway and west of Old Kings Road
Contained; .01 acre
Division of Forestry and Palm Coast Fire Department
Yelvington Fire
Reported 5/27/11
North of S.R.100 near the Flagler /Putnam County line
Contained; 15 + acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue monitoring
Big Curve 205 Fire
Reported 5/27/11
West of Espanola and north of County Road 205
Contained; 0.1 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue Monitoring
Durrance Fire
Reported 5/27/11
Just south of Durrance Lane and west of I-95
Contained; 7.8 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue monitoring
Bunnell Feed Fire
Reported 5/27/11
Just north of downtown Bunnell
Contained; .01 acres
Division of Forestry and Bunnell Fire Department monitoring
Dorena Grade Fire
Reported 5/22/11
East of Espanola and just north of Otis Stone Hunter Road
Contained; 14 acres
Division of Forestry and Palm Coast Fire Department monitoring
Haw Creek Fire
Reported 5/19/11
South of County Road 2006 and east of Dead Lake
Contained; 0.9 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue monitoring
Dog Pen Fire
Reported 5/15/11
West of U.S. 1 and Palm Coast, north of S.R. 100
Contained; 58 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue mopping up.
Spalding Fire
Reported 5/15/11
North of S.R. 100 and west of Bunnell
Contained; 4 acres
Division of Forestry and Flagler County Fire Rescue monitoring
Powerline No. 2 Fire
Reported 5/8/11
South of Bunnell and east of S.R. 11
Burned into the Powerline Fire 50% Contained; 21 acres
Division of Forestry, Bunnell Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue monitoring
