- April 18, 2024
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According to Fire Chief Don Petito, because of improving conditions and progressively less new information to report, this morning marked the final Emergency Operations Center fire briefing.
“Fire activity has definitely decreased because of the rain,” Petito said. “And that’s going to continue.”
There were no new starts yesterday, he reported, leaving the active county fire total at six. Statewide, there were seven new starts, burning 210 acres. Currently, there are 218 active fires throughout Florida, burning through a combined 31,820 acres.
“You’ll notice those numbers are greatly lower than they have been in recent days,” said Timber Weller, Division of Forestry spokesman.
The Espanola fire, Flagler’s largest and only uncontained blaze, is holding at 70% containment and 5,136 acres, although there are “still some very active hotspots,” Petito cautioned.
The total circumference of the fire is 17 miles, six of which mark the “uncontained” area, which officials say are dug out in boundary trenches but lined with deep layers of flammable organic materials.
“Until the incident commander is confident … (that) no matter what happens this fire can’t get out, it won’t be 100% contained,” Weller said.
Resources are also demobilizing, Petito reported, and Flagler personnel has been reduced down to one single taskforce, the smallest crew on call since March.
“(But) we’re still on high alert,” he said. “We haven’t received enough rain to fully extinguish the remaining fires … or prevent more (from cropping up).”
But the forecast looks good.
After a dry upcoming weekend, the National Weather Service projects that the stormy weather pattern will continue early next week.
A “substantial” portion of rain is expected today and tomorrow, as well, according to Emergency Management Technician Bob Pickering.
The total rainfall from the past five days of showers and thunderstorms is one inch to three inches, depending on location. Certain parts of the Espanola fire, Pickering said, only received .5 inches of precipitation.
Still, the state drought index is down to 504. “A couple days ago it was way over 600,” Weller said.
Volusia County has also received a significant amount of rainfall, and have returned to semi-routine operations, Petito said.
For updates and status changes, visit, and bookmark, www.flagleremergency.com.
