Yard waste facility closed due to fire
The City of Jacksonville has closed the South Yard Waste Facility (mulch facility), 11600 Davis Creek Road E., until further notice due to a contained fire, according to a news release from the city. Residential yard waste collection schedules will not change, however the waste will now be delivered to the Old Kings Road Landfill, 8540 Old Kings Road. The following options are available for the disposal of commercially-generated yard waste: Old Kings Road Landfill 8540 Old Kings Road (904) 768-5363 First Coast Mulch 11864 Camden Road (904) 751-6495
Strong winds put Bradford County on alert
Residents of Bradford County have been put on evacuation standby Wednesday after strong winds caused previously burning wildfires to flare up again, according to the National Weather Service. Only around 20 acres burned Tuesday, but winds around 15 to 20 mph brought smoke into the area, said meteorologist Matt Zibura. No evacuations have been ordered, but officials are monitoring the situation.
Lake Okeechobee ties record for lowest level; fire on lake bottom
Water levels in dried-out Lake Okeechobee dropped Wednesday to match a historic low set in 2001, while firefighters battled a blaze burning on part of the exposed lake bottom. The South Florida Water Management District expected the record of 8.97 feet from May 24, 2001, to evaporate later in the day as the region's worst known drought continues. The average water level for this time of year should be around 13 feet in the second-largest freshwater lake in the contiguous United States. The 12,000-acre fire started Monday in the vegetation left to dry in the sun as the lake waters receded from its northwest rim, said Melissa Yunas, a spokeswoman for the Florida Division of Forestry. "It happens when the lake dries out," Yunas said. "All the water is not there. Now it's just vegetation, all dried out, just sitting on the side of the lake." The cause of the fire was unknown. It was about 50 percent contained, Yunas said. Lake Okeechobee is the primary backup reservoir for 5 million people in South Florida during dry periods. Water management officials warn that the lower the lake levels drop, the less likely it is that summer rains will sufficiently refill the lake to meet water demands during the next dry season. -- The Associated Press
NWS: Dangerous fire conditions in Suwannee Valley
The National Weather Service reports dangerous fire conditions are in store for the Suwannee Valley Tuesday. Several large wildfires continue across the area with easterly winds pushing smoke to the west of the fires. The National Weather Service is urging residents to follow the advice of local authorities. People with respiratory problems and the elderly shoulde remain inddors in areas with thick smoke. Drier air working into the area combined with continued blorderline breezy conditions for the Suwannee Valley of Florida has prompted a Red Flag Warning for the area. For the complete hazardous weather outlook click here.
Post your wildfire photos
If you've taken any photos of the wildfires, their smoke or the traffic pileups that both have caused, share them with us. We've set up a gallery for your photos at http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=272371. Also, if you have any stories about how the fires have affected you, post a comment on any of the entries on this blog.
Weekend outlook for smoke
The National Weather Service is reporting that the same wind current that has kept the wildfire smoke away from downtown Jacksonville should continue to do the same throughout the weekend. According to its most recent hazardous weather outlook, the weather service said the wind will continue to push west toward Lake City until Thursday. Both Interstates 75 and 10 remain open right now, but smoke could close either one if it gets worse. For more weather coverage go to: http://www.jacksonville.com/weather/index.shtmlFor traffic coverage go to: http://www.jacksonville.com/wildfires/road_closures.shtml
Crenshaw seeks federal aid for wildfire relief
U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw took some initial steps today in trying to secure some federal assistance in North Florida's recovery efforts from the wildfires. Crenshaw, R-Fla., made the request at a meeting that included Federal Emergency Management Agency Director David Paulison and Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Craig Fugate, according to a news release from his office. “The recovery costs alone shouldn’t have to be another catastrophe," Crenshaw said in the release. "As our firefighters and emergency personnel continue to make progress containing the fire, it’s time to start thinking about federal relief. Crenshaw recently visited the Deep Creek Volunteer Fire Department outside Lake City to be briefed on the Bugaboo Fire.
Fire evacuations ordered
Mandatory evacuations are underway south of Waycross as winds push the western side of Georgia Bay Fire toward homes in the Suwannee Chapel Road-Swamp Road area. The heavy fire activity from what was formerly the Sweat Farm Roa d Fire started Wednesday afternoon, when the fire jumped containment lines and burned 2,600 acres. The fire was thought to have advanced as fast as 100 feet per minute Wednesday and started running again this afternoon. Ware County sheriff's deputies are going door-to-door warning residents to leave as heavy smoke blows into the area. On the western side of the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, the fire jumped the Suwannee Sill, a long, low dam built decades ago to retain water in the swamp. The area behind the dam usually has water and officials said fires had never before crossed the sill. Embers from the main fire is said to have spotted over containment lines and started small fires as much as three quarters of a mile away.
Bronson urges fire caution over Memorial Day weekend
Floridians should be particularly careful this holiday weekend because the state is so dry and ripe for more wildfires, Agriculture Secretary Charles Bronson warned Thursday. Drought, hot, dry weather and windy conditions have conspired to keep the fire danger high in the state. While barbecuing in a grill isn't banned, Bronson warned that people who plan to do so over the Memorial Day weekend should be especially careful, and make sure they don't put smoldering charcoal briquettes on the ground. "Any little spark could be the catalyst for the next big wildfire," Bronson said. "Our foresters and firefighters from across the state and nation have been working tirelessly to protect people and property. They have a good handle on the fires but it is critical that everyone do their part in preventing additional fires." Outdoor burning of leaves, grass, branches and other waste is currently prohibited statewide. Some counties have additional burn bans that cover other activities, and Bronson said residents should check with local forestry or fire department officials to find out what is prohibited. This year, 2,473 wildfires have burned about 547 square miles in Florida. - From the Associated Press
Ware may ban fireworks
The Associated Press is reporting that Ware County may ban Memorial Day and Fourth of July fireworks because of dry conditions. Ware county commissioners are expected to vote today on the ban, the news agency reported. Read the full story at http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/052307/D8PABC9G1.shtml. Do you think Florida counties on the First Coast should look at doing the same thing after so many weeks of wildfires? Leave a comment or send us an e-mail at wildfires@jacksonville.com.
Rain again a tease
Rain is expected Thursday, but unfortunately it won't be enough to extinguish wildfires or have an effect on the extremely dry conditions in the First Coast. Less than a tenth of an inch of rain is expected and most of that should be out by the coasts, said Melissa Hurlbut, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville. The chance of precipitation is only 25 percent. The problem with the rain in Jacksonville is that it's been slight rain every so often and it dries right back up in the summer heat. To end the wildfire season the First Coast needs a downpour, a few inches of rain over a sustained period of time. Fire conditions will not be ideal Thursday with strong winds around 15 to 20 mph which can spread the fires, Hurlbut said. At the beaches, expect even stronger winds, up to 25 mph, which also brings back the risk of strong waves and erosion at the beaches.
Wildfire danger is high for Memorial Day weekend
Although the wildfires have calmed down, the conditions for Memorial Day weekend haven't -- in particular with use of fireworks and outdoor cookouts. The Florida Division of Forestry is urging north Florida residents to use extreme caution with outdoor activities because even the smallest spark could ignite a raging wildfire. Northeast Florida alone has over 140,000 acres of active wildfires. Long-term drought conditions have made everything dry and prime for fires. Area counties with outdoor burning bans include: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Flagler, Lafayette, Marion, Nassau, Putnam, Union and Volusia. People should clear away all flammable materials while grilling out and keep a water hose or bucket nearby. Children should be supervised near the grill at all times and no grill should be left unattended. Be sure to soak the coals in water before disposing of them.
Smoke reported in Tennessee
The Associated Press is reporting that the smoke from fires in Georgia and Florida's First Coast is making its way to the Tennessee border. The news service reported that the fires are causing a haze in western half of Tennessee and northern Mississippi. For more on this story go to http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/052307/D8PA8V581.shtml.
What's the fire danger forecast?
The Fire Danger forecast, known officially as the Fire Readiness Level, is provided daily by District 7 of the Florida Division of Forestry. The forecast applies to Duval, Clay and Nassau counties. For a more detailed fire weather forecast that includes other counties click here.
High winds pose greater fire danger
This morning the National Weather Service is predicting easterly winds of 15 to 20 miles-per-hour with gusts up to 25 miles-per-hour. When combined with low afternoon relative humidities will lead to critial fire weather condition over the Suwannee Valley as well as Alachua and Marion counties. The National Weather Service reports that these weather conditions favor rapid fire spread and people in or near wooded areas should excise extreme caution today.
Smoke moving west
The National Weather Service is reporting that winds are pushing the wildfire smoke west -- meaning that Jacksonville should not see the level of smoke that it has been seeing recently. The NWS is recommending that seniors and people with respiratory problems in the affected area should stay inside. The winds are expected to continue moving west for the rest the week, according to the NWS. For more weather information, check out www.jacksonville.com/weather/index.shtml.
Two sites to check out
We got requests for two resources from readers: regularly updated traffic information and a map of the fires. Right now U.S. Hwy 441 remains the only road with closures because of the wildfires. For the latest traffic information take a look at http://www.jacksonville.com/wildfires/road_closures.shtml, that site pulls its information from the state Emergency Operations Center. Also, take a look at http://www.fws.gov/okefenokee/Okefiremap.pdf for the latest map of the wildfires. Do you know of any other Web site out there with good information?
Winds expected to increase fire danger
The National Weather service is predicting strong east to northeast winds on Wednesday and Thursday. That in turn is expected to increase the dangerous fire weather conditions. The onshore winds are also predicted to cause rough surf and minor coastal flooding.
Welcome to our new wildfires section
Today we launch a new special section to track the wildfires in Florida and Georgia. You'll find a daily fire danger alert, road closings, weather updates, photo galleries, useful related links, occasional videos, Times-Union coverage and more. We hope you'll check the section often as our region works its way through the drought. Bill Bortzfield Online News Manager Jacksonville.com
Wildfire smoke making way to Atlanta
The Associated Press is reporting that smoke from the wildfire near the Okefenokee Swamp is again being seen near Atlanta. A National Weather Service meteorologist told the news service that wind should push the smoke out of the metropolitan area sometime later today. See the full report at http://www.jacksonville.com/apnews/stories/052207/D8P9C4HG1.shtml. Also, when the smoke moved through the Jacksonville-area, did you change anything about your day? Did you stop working out or reschedule anything? Share in our comments section or send us an e-mail at tuwildfires@gmail.com.
Share your photos
If you've taken any photos of the wildfires, their smoke or the traffic pileups that both have caused, share them with us. We've set up a gallery for your photos at http://photos.jacksonville.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=272371. Also, if you have any stories about how the fires have affected you, post a comment on any of the entries on this blog.
Bugaboo fire 90 percent contained
The Florida Bugaboo fire in Baker and Columbia counties was 90 percent contained at last report and the Sweat Farm Road fire in Ware County, Ga. was 85 percent contained. About 1,500 people forced from their Columbia County homes by wildfire threats were allowed to return over the weekend as authorities canceled all fire-related evacuations in Florida. Despite the break for weary residents of the remaining 550 evacuated homes, those battling the 121,000-acre Florida Bugaboo fire warn that more trouble could erupt at any moment. Residents were told to keep valuables packed in case they needed to make another quick exit. Evacuations began more than a week ago in a fast-moving fire that is now about 80 percent contained, fire officials said. About 200 people were allowed to return to about 180 homes Friday.
'Bugaboo Bears' leaving UF vet clinic
The mother bear and her cub that were saved from the wildfires last week have left the University of Florida, where they had been receiving treatment, according to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. The mother bear was injured saving her cub from the fire. The two were moved to a private rehabilitation on Friday, the FWC reported. According to a press release: "Before leaving the UF Veterinary Medical Center, the 165-pound sow was sedated and all four paws were treated and bandaged."
Perdue released $7 million to fight fires
Morris News Service ATLANTA -- The state will send an extra $7 million to help fight the wildfires in south Georgia, Gov. Sonny Perdue announced Friday. Perdue signed an executive order releasing unused money from the Department of Revenue to the Georgia Emergency Management Agency and the Georgia Forestry Commission. “These additional funds will allow the communities to continue fighting the fires and assist in their recovery,” Perdue said in a news release. “Because we budgeted conservatively, we are now able to release these funds to assist the emergency facing those in southeast Georgia.” More funding could be made available if the $7 million isn’t enough, Perdue Press Secretary Bert Brantley said. The move comes the same day Morris News Service reported that the Georgia Forestry Commission, the state agency charged with monitoring and putting out wildfires in Georgia, has received lower appropriations in recent years than agency officials had requested.
Parents and Teachers
Teachers and parents, have your students and children asked about the wildfires in Georgia and Florida? If so, we want to hear from them. Send us their questions -- along with the child's name, age and school. We'll get answers from local officials and publish them in a future edition of the Times-Union or Jacksonville.com. Also if your child has drawn pictures of the fires, rescue personnel or volunteers, we'd like to consider them for publication. You may e-mail questions and digital copies of artwork to rachel.davis@jacksonville.com, or send the drawings to Rachel Davis, Lifestyle Reporter, Florida Times-Union, 1 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32202.
Survival of the fittest
Wondering what's happening to all animals who live in the path of the fires, check out a Tuesday article. Do you live in an affected area? Have you seen what's happening to wildlife? Send us a comment or drop us an e-mail at tuwildfires@gmail.com.
One-stop place for fire coverage
Welcome to the Times-Union/Jacksonville.com one-stop spot for coverage of the wildfires throughout Northeast Florida and south Georgia. As we get information throughout the day, this is the spot we'll make sure to update to keep you informed. If you have any questions about closures or progress in putting out the fires, contact us at tuwildfires@gmail.com.
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