Forest firefighters battling dry conditions and wind
DAYTONA BEACH — A wildfire in southern Volusia County that broke out Friday and grew to more than 100 acres overnight was 90% contained by Saturday morning, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The fire located on the southern tip of Tiger Bay State Forest just north of Interstate 4 burned into a swamp, so firefighters were having some difficulty Saturday getting their equipment into the remaining portions of the blaze, said Julie Allen, a public information officer with the Florida Forest Service's Bunnell District.
Allen said there was hope it could be 100% contained soon, but the strong breeze and swamp will make that a challenge.
"With the winds today, we do have concerns with it spreading and firefighter safety," Allen said Saturday morning.
On Friday the National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for most of Central Florida. The Red Flag designation indicates there is a higher risk for fires due to warm temperatures, very low humidity and strong wind. Saturday's temperatures climbed into the upper 80s and winds were sustained at about 15 mph hours and gusting higher.
No one should be burning anything for the next few days, Allen said.
Wildland firefighters with the Florida Forest Service have taken the lead on knocking down the Tiger Bay Forest blaze. Flagler County Helicopter Fireflight was assigned to help reach portions of the forest fire by air that firefighters were having difficulty getting to on the ground. Volusia County Fire Services is also helping with containment and mop-up of the fire, Allen said.
No injuries have been reported, she said.
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"Now containing lines is our goal," Allen said.
The fire has remained in the forest in a rural area south of U.S. Highway 92 and north of State Road 44 between Port Orange and DeLand.
"It's deep in the center of the forest and no structures are in danger," Allen said.
Woody Loop fire still burning
Because of the billowing smoke being blown around by the wind Friday, advisories were issued for those traveling along Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 92 between DeLand and Daytona Beach. But no roads were closed, Allen said.
Columns of smoke were still rising Saturday, so those driving in the area should continue to use caution and monitor developments.
Dubbed the Woody Loop fire by the Florida Forest Service because of its proximity to Woody Road, the brush fire quickly grew to 70 acres, but by early Friday evening it was about 60 percent contained.
Digital signs placed along roads Friday incorrectly said it was a prescribed burn. It is a wildfire, Allen said.
In addition to the low humidity and high winds, the fire was also accelerated by ample vegetation, Allen said.
"The last time that area burned was 2009," she said. "There was 14 years of fuel built up."
She noted that it's normal to see wildfires in Florida between March and June because it's a time of year when it hasn't regularly rained for months and won't until early summer. A 4-acre fire broke out Friday in Barberville in northwest Volusia County, but it was quickly 100% contained, Allen said.
"Florida is a fire-dependent ecosystem," she said.
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Wind complicated knocking down a Volusia County forest fire Saturday
