Fire in SoWal -- Seagrove Beach

South Walton Fire Fighter?

Smoke is very heavy in Destin. Going over the Destin bridge, you can't even see norreigo point. I am in Crystal Beach and the smoke smell is VERY strong. Called the fire department and they think it is the Freeport fire.

Smoke is so heavy in Sandestin you can't see the tops of the buildings.

Does anyone know if there is a new fire???

We're coming down on Saturday. Being in Kentucky it's difficult to grasp the local aspect of the fires and exactly what the situation is coming down. Are there issues in terms of road closures or things of that nature that we should worry about coming into Seagrove? Anything we should prepare ourselves for in advance...other than of course pray for some rain.

Unless the winds are blowing from the fires in GA and FL toward you in Kentucky, causing a smoke haze across the roadways, I don't think you should have any concerns. The smoke smell has diminished a bit since this morning, and it might not be so good for people with asthma, but otherwise, just pretend you are fireside as you sit on the beach.

You can find up to date info on road closures etc. with links on Weather.com and the Florida state highway patrol websites.

Here is a link for a map of the fires.

http://www.fl-dof.com/wildfire2007/wildfire_map.html


Here is the FHP link for road conditions

http://www.eoconline.org/EM_Live/roadstat.nsf

Thanks you all!

Has there been an official announcement on the cause of the Seagrove fire??

Did anyone find an answer to this question?

Lots of smoke in the Bay Dr./ East Point Washington Rd. area- started smelling it on 283 coming out of Grayton.

Lots of smoke in the Bay Dr./ East Point Washington Rd. area- started smelling it on 283 coming out of Grayton.

jinx! started a new thread.

jinx! started a new thread.

Punch bug, you owe Jdarg a coke ;-)

In today's paper:

SEAGROVE BEACH ? The Florida Division of Forestry has concluded that a brush fire that burned in the area May 8 was started accidentally.
Officials cannot determine just how the fire started, but it does not appear to be arson, said forestry spokesman Bob Rhea.
It is believed that the fire was started accidentally by someone, but that is all investigators can conclude, Rhea said.
The fire scorched seven acres, destroyed three homes and damaged several others near Somerset Bridge Road.

There was another fire in Wild Heron last night (Friday), too. Driving in from Atlanta, we smelled smoke on Back Beach and saw a couple of fire trucks at the entrance to the complex. Don't know how bad this one was, though.

Smoke smell is over powering in the Crystal Beach area in Destin. You can almost taste it. Anyone else?

In another thread I posted that there was a nauseating smell of smoke in Seagrove. Now I just faintly smell it.

Smoke is not from here, say officials

May 24, 2007
By Gwen Break
gwen_break@link.freedom.com The South Walton Fire District issued a press release early May 24 advising residents that the heavy smoke in the area was from a fire approximately 250 miles to the east.
The press release was issued after 911 received numerous calls for smoke investigations.
The smoke is from fires burning in the Lake City area and is being delivered to the panhandle by an easterly wind.
While SWFD is urging residents to not panic over the blanket of smoke, they said residents should continue to be vigilant in their fire prevention efforts.
?The relative humidity is still in the low 30s during the day with a very small chance of rain expected. These continued dry conditions maintain a high threat of wildland fires for our area,? said SWFD Deputy Fire Chief Sean Hughes.
The Walton County Board of County Commissioners issued an emergency ordinance banning all open burning without a permit on May 22. State officials had issued a statewide ban earlier this month.

I see on weather dot com that the threat of fire along 30-A is again a possibility with the low humidity and high winds. Will those of you who live down there full time keep those of us who aren't there full time informed? We can be there in a few hours to spray down our property and then assist others with theirs.

I see on weather dot com that the threat of fire along 30-A is again a possibility with the low humidity and high winds. Will those of you who live down there full time keep those of us who aren't there full time informed? We can be there in a few hours to spray down our property and then assist others with theirs.

I think most of us that live here would be happy to house things down for you. Probably the fewer people running around the better in an emergency.

Otherwise we'll:



Can you tell I'm excited about getting my smilies working again?

Chill BR. Don't borrow trouble. I hadn't even heard of this, but did check the weather and saw the warning. It is plenty humid out right now...about 75%.

I agree with M.K. & S.W.G.B. There is no reason to think that just because Weatherdotcom says the fire risk is here that we need to be running around hosing down houses for out of town owners or anyone else. Nor is there a need for even more people to be coming in and trying to be the fire dept. Our fire dept is very competent and I have the utmost confidence in their ability to keep losses at a minimum should the not-so-unimaginable happen. With the current water supply in the southeast in the condition it is in, I personally think that going around needlessly spraying it, just in case, is absurd. Your neighbors in ATL would be a bit upset , if they knew that they were sending their dangerously low supply of drinking water (that you guys so desperately need and want to keep in that area) down here to hose down your vacation home should it be in danger. I suggest you check the amount that you have it insured for, and relax.

Your neighbors in ATL would be a bit upset , if they knew that they were sending their dangerously low supply of drinking water (that you guys so desperately need and want to keep in that area) down here to hose down your vacation home should it be in danger.

And let's not forget that North Georgia is under "red flag" fire conditions, too, right when the temperatures have started to really drop and everyone is starting to crank up the fireplaces.

everyone is starting to crank up the fireplaces.

I am really more concerned with the fact that we are facing a situation that entire STATES would not have water to fight a fire than I am about the humidity being low and that fire danger is high right now.

For people who have renters in SoWal this week, it makes sense to call them and to let them know to be extra careful with fire safety (e.g., grilling - perhaps to pass on the grilling right now) while they are there. That's what I would do if we had renters. And thanks, BR, for keeping us on our toes (As someone who is also far from SoWal, I like that sort of information that I might otherwise miss).

Chill BR. Don't borrow trouble. I hadn't even heard of this, but did check the weather and saw the warning. It is plenty humid out right now...about 75%.

I saw the same weather warning on Accuweather.com and it confused me as well. We had over 75% humidity last night when I saw it.

Here's the link:

http://www.accuweather.com/watches-...code=32540&metric=0&zone=FLZ005&county=FLC091

I saw the same weather warning on Accuweather.com and it confused me as well. We had over 75% humidity last night when I saw it.

Here's the link:

http://www.accuweather.com/watches-...code=32540&metric=0&zone=FLZ005&county=FLC091

Not to mention the 12 inches of rain 2 week before last.