- December 16, 2025
The 5,136-acre Espanola fire was recently declared ‘out,’ by the Florida Division of Forestry.
The largest and longest burning wildfire of Flagler County’s early-summer fire season is officially extinguished, according to a recent announcement by the Florida Division of Forestry.
Started on May 30, the Espanola fire quickly grew to 5,136 acres. It remained that size, in a state of “containment,” for more than two months, where lines were bulldozed around the area but flames still burned underground, beneath the Big Cypress Swamp in the western portion of the county.
Until now, the area has been kept under watch by the DOF.
Florida Forestry Service District Manager Mike Kuypers said it was likely a combination of rainfall and a shortage of fuel (i.e., trees, underbrush) that finally extinguished the blaze. In the past couple of weeks, the area has received about 1.5 inches of rain.
However, several small fires continue to burn in the county.
According to Flagler County Communications Manager Carl Laundrie, weekend storms from Hurricane Irene didn’t affect the county’s fire conditions.
Six smaller fires continue to burn around Flagler, including one 14-acre fire, reported Tuesday, Aug. 23, off State Road 11. The other five, the largest of which is an 18-acre flare-up in the Relay Wildlife Management Area, continue.
“It is really dry out there, and we are not out of danger from wildfires yet,” Fire Rescue Chief Don Petito said, in a county release.
Flagler’s average drought index is currently measured at 429, on a scale to 800, as of Aug. 30, but Petito noted that the number varies depending on location.
Each new thunderstorm brings much needed rain, Petito said, but also more lightning, which can cause more fires.
