- March 28, 2024
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Twelve active fires were burning as of June 22, in Flagler County. The largest of them all — the Espanola fire — has grown to more than 5,100 acres and is about 50% contained.
A haze of thick smoke covered much of Flagler County June 21, as the county continued its battle against the wildfires.
The heat index reached 105 degrees with the actual temperature hovering around 97 degrees June 21, but despite the heat, the firefighters held the lines on another somewhat successful day.
The Espanola fire — the county’s largest blaze — is 50% contained and has grown to about 5,111 acres, according to the June 21 media briefing.
“Things are remaining calm,” Flagler County Fire Chief Don Petito said June 21. “There were no new starts (in the past two days).”
The Espanola fire burned about 1,900 acres as of June 7, and it was approximately seven to nine miles west of the city earlier this month. But the fire broke containment and raced east last week before firefighters were able to stop the fire at the railroad tracks east of U.S. 1, or about six miles from Palm Coast. That same day, June 16, there were 23 active wildfires in the county. As of June 21, there were 12.
The other notable fire in the county, the White Eagle fire, is 80% contained and is in “check status,” according to Todd Schroeder, public information officer for the Florida Division of Forestry.
The National Weather Service is predicting a break in the scorching heat sometime Thursday, as moist air from the Gulf of Mexico is ushered into the atmosphere throughout the weekend. According to Weather.com, there is a 40% chance of rain with scattered thunderstorms for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Lightning storms have been the culprit for the majority of the county’s fires, which usually take days to blossom after smoldering underground. Storms on June 18 caused four additional fires, though all were quickly contained.
Though the fire situation has been looking positive for the past few days, officials still are cautious.
“Complacency should not take place with this fire,” said Palm Coast Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte at the June 21 City Council meeting. “The outlook is not very good quite yet. The danger still exists, and we must remain cognizant of that danger.”
Forte said the rain that fell the past few days has almost completely dried up because of the heat. The drought index was 678 out of 800 as of June 21. It reached 701 last week.
Fourth of July fireworks canceled
Flagler County will have no fireworks this year to celebrate the Fourth of July. The decision was made by the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners at the June 20 meeting.
Fires around the county have caused a burn ban to be in place since December 2010, and the ban will not be lifted for the celebration.
Commissioner Milissa Holland: “It would be my suggestion that we don’t want the fireworks … It honors the men and women who are out there day in and day out who are fighting the fires.”
Palm Coast City Manager Jim Landon said June 21 that the city supports the county’s decision and also urged residents not to launch personal fireworks on the Fourth of July.
“Please do not buy (fireworks) this year ... it’s dangerous for all of us,” he said.
— Mike Cavaliere contributed to this report.