Fire in SoWal -- Seagrove Beach

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Once again, we can see the value of this board. Many of us began our addiction to SoWal.com during Ivan--when it was the only source of info. about the conditions before and after the storm. SoWal.com is still the best source of "breaking news" in the area. Thanks Kurt :clap_1: .

I am so glad that everyone is o.k. Thanks to all the emergency crews for their hard work--they've had a busy few days.

So sorry for the loss of property.

Yay SoWal.com!! What a valuable resource this board was today!!:clap_1:

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Yay SoWal.com!! What a valuable resource this board was today!!:clap_1:

Definitely! I've been out all day and am reading this thread as fast as I can; so sorry to hear of the loss of homes, but so thankful I'm not reading about any injuries or fatalities.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

So sorry for those of you that lost your homes.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

That is terrible. Those houses in that neighborhood are mostly permanent residences.

Although many of the homes on that street are permanent residences, I'm told that fortunately, all of the homes that burned were second homes. So although it's very sad and bad news for the owners, it could have been worse. I've heard that neighbors and workers in the area worked very hard to save homes close to the first house that burned down. They continuously were hosing down the house one empty lot away and probably saved this permanent residence.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Thanks to SJ and the whole sowal family for the updates. I can't imagine not having sowal.com to know what is happening on 30A. Let's all pray for those who sustained loss and pray for some much needed rain.

I appreciate the praise, but I was not on the scene. I was just reporting what I heard first hand from Abe Drinkin'. I will try to get over there in the morning for a little report on damaged properities. If you want to thank someone, write a note to the SWFD and thank those brave women and men who put their lives on the line for us, every day. They might not do much during the average day, but they mean the world to us when it counts.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Just went outside, smells so smokey. Is everything out- ?? I'm kind of scared to go to bed So sorry to everyone who has lost.....


Those firemen are incredible!! A big thank you there!!

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

One house destroyed in Somerset Bridge.

The house in this picture appears to be 332 Somerset bridge road, and belongs to some people in Loveland, OH.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

I know that most of the homes which were burned or damaged were second homes, but if anyone is displaced and needs a place to stay, please send me a private message, and I will hook you up with a place to stay, or do my damnest trying to find you a place to hang your hat for a while.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

A worker in a store on the south side of 30A across the street from the Trustmark Bank and Angelinas said they first noticed the fire when they heard flying ash pelting their windows.

Houses at the end of Ellis street had flames up to their back yards.

Fire reached a yard of a house just 2 blocks away from Cafe 30A. It melted a vinyl fence along side the dwelling before it was extinguished.

The below picture is of one of two homes destroyed in The Bungalows of Seagrove. It is tilted over because the pilings burned out from under it.

Just after this pictures was taken flames erupted again in the woods to the left.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Thanks for the report, Hi and Dry. That house in your attachment looks like 114 Somerset Bridge Rd. I have a some business to attend to tomorrow, for most of the day, but I will try to make a run over there first thing tomorrow to take some photos and update everyone with a report and photo overview. Please don't let that stop anyone else who cares to post their reports.

If 114 and 118 Somerset, both were destroyed/damaged from the fire, as I guess from the visuals seen in the first hand reports (my guess from looking at the photos), my guess is that 116 probably also suffered substantial damage.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

I have been reading all of this and am just beside myself. My thoughts and prayers to all affected by these fires and I hope & pray for rain.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Below was the other house destroyed in The Bungalows of Seagrove.

There maybe more damaged buildings in the Bungalows but it this is all that could be seen because the far east end of the complex was closed off by EMS and Fire vehicle activity.

At 8 PM the SW firefighters and the Forestry Service were still watering everything down and I assume some will be there all night.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

I could have sworn I smelled smoke again this morning. I am hoping it was just my imagination.

I would like to personally thank all the fine folks that kept us updated on the fire yesterday. I can tell you that everyone I spoke with in Publix and Movies by the Sea had a different spin on what was happening. From abe drinkin reporting on the spot and bb posting factual info from the fire dept., it certainly helped calm some nerves. SoWal.com is certainly the place for breaking news. As a non resident Walton Co. tax payer, I am awed and pleased by the cooperation of so many fire departments working together. Thank you for keeping us safe. :clap_1:

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

So sorry for those who lost their homes.
Thanks to the fire department for preventing even more damage.
Thanks to everyone who called me or pm'ed me to reassure me or offer to check on my house.
Thanks to the people who checked on my house.
Thanks for this message board for the valuable information it provides, as well as friendships and entertainment.

Unfortunately, like my husband said, it's not over -- until we get a good rain, the area is still at risk of more fires.

I'm looking out my window right now and see smoke again , something is on fire at Bunglow's. Of course firetrucks are there, but lets get this out. We had fire next to our house yesterday and this just gives me the creeps.

Putting out fires of this nature is tough to do at one time. You can dump gallons of water on a thick piece of burning timber and it will extinguish the flames. You can continue to pour water on it even after the fire is out.
The problem is that the fuel source deep inside is not being affected by the water, and when the wind blows it can bring the embers back to a flame. Completely putting out a fire is at least a two day job.

I live RIGHT across the street from the bunglow's in a condo and this morning about 6am there was still smoke. Hm. Just in case I packed some clothes to bring to work with me this morning. :shock:

Putting out fires of this nature is tough to do at one time. You can dump gallons of water on a thick piece of burning timber and it will extinguish the flames. You can continue to pour water on it even after the fire is out.
The problem is that the fuel source deep inside is not being affected by the water, and when the wind blows it can bring the embers back to a flame. Completely putting out a fire is at least a two day job.

That is how my house almost burned down a few years ago. It was a house fire that was not completely extinguished 2 days earlier that flared up and started a forest fire.

For those of you who thought you smelled smoke this a.m., you did. The fire department is back at Bungalows doing a controlled burn behind the homes that were destroyed in yesterday's fire. Hopefully they will get rid of all the dry underbrush that is so easily ignited. I saw a few of the fire and rescue guys and told them how much we all appreciate their efforts. Told them to come to SoWal.com to see how many of you wanted to thank them. Let's hope and pray for a better day today and rain soon.

Re: New Fire in SoWal -- Sommerset Beach - Seagrove

Once again, we can see the value of this board. Many of us began our addiction to SoWal.com during Ivan--when it was the only source of info. about the conditions before and after the storm. SoWal.com is still the best source of "breaking news" in the area. Thanks Kurt :clap_1: .

I am so glad that everyone is o.k. Thanks to all the emergency crews for their hard work--they've had a busy few days.

So sorry for the loss of property.

:clap_1: DITTO!

.

Maybe someone needs to make hats and tee-shirts with SWFD

Maybe someone needs to make hats and tee-shirts with SWFD

I think when I am in town this weekend we should take them all lunch!

Maybe someone needs to make hats and tee-shirts with SWFD

Lee and Carmen at Palmetto Gear are making them for SWFD. I thought it would be a good idea for the department to sell them if they needed to raise extra funds. I think they may look into a cafe press site but governement funded entities can't always do what they want.

I've been thinking of making some SoWal shirts with different organizations on them, with permission and cooperation of course.

The SWFD has t-shirts - they were selling them at the Seabreeze jazzfest to raise money.

One of the severely damaged Bungalows re ignited at about 5 AM.
This picture is at 8:30 AM.

This house is being allowed to burn out while the surrounding area is protected by spraying down.

Winds have picked up and smoke is seen rising in hot spots in the forest.

Please note: residents do not want gawkers driving their cars around their neighborhood. I was on a bike and asked permission.