Wildfire in South Walton: Updates - Arrest Made

[Teresa]

*Mussett Bayou Wildland Fire Update*
SWFD
May 10

The Florida Foresty Service is reporting that the fire is now at 85% containment and 343 acres burned.

This means that the fire has a 85% chance of staying within the established fire breaks/lines.

We are urging all our Walton County residents/ guests/ and visitors alike to avoid any and all outdoor burning at this time. Conditions today and especially tomorrow are very favorable for a small fire to rapidly become a large uncontrolled fire.

SWFD crews along with our mutual aid partners will maintain a presence and continue to support the Florida Forestry Service until this incident is 100% mitigated.

South Walton residents, guests and visitors alike will most likely still see smoke and flames for several days. However, if you see those outside of these burned areas, we ask that you call 9-1-1.

SWFD would also like to ask everyone in our area to please watch out for crews that are still working.

We will provide another update tomorrow unless there is important information that we need to provide you with.

Thank you for your continued support.

 

[Teresa]

*Mussett Bayou Wildland Fire Update*
May 11

The Florida Forestry Service is reporting that the fire is now at 90% containment with 343 acres burned.

This means that the fire has a 90% chance of staying within the established fire breaks/lines.

SWFD crews along with our mutual aid partners will maintain a presence and continue to support the Florida Forestry Service until this incident is 100% mitigated.

South Walton residents, guests and visitors alike will most likely still see smoke and flames for several days. However, if you see those outside of these burned areas, we ask that you call 9-1-1.

SWFD would also like to ask everyone in our area to please watch out for crews that are still working.

We will provide another update tomorrow unless there is important information that we need to provide you with.

Thank you for your continued support.

 

[bob1]

Arrest made in 343-acre Mussett Bayou wildfire in Walton County

Yesterday, investigators with the state’s Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement (OALE) obtained an arrest warrant for Allen Smith of Santa Rosa Beach for the Mussett Bayou wildfire in Walton County.

Allen Smith was subsequently located and arrested in reference to the active arrest warrant and was booked into the Walton County jail without incident. Bond was set at $5,000, according to the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

“Recklessly burning illegal materials puts lives, lands, and property at risk. When that occurs, it’s our responsibility to take swift action and bring perpetrators to justice, just as has happened here,” said Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. “Our hearts are with everyone who lost homes in this tragic fire. We’re thankful for the diligence of our Agricultural Law Enforcement officers and investigators and our Florida Forest Service wildland firefighters, and for the partnership of Walton County Sheriff Adkinson and his team.”

Investigation: On the evening of May 5, 2020, OALE began an investigation into a wildfire that occurred earlier that day in the vicinity of Mussett Bayou Road in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida in Walton County.

The final estimated acreage indicates the fire burned approximately 343 acres of wildlands and damaged or destroyed approximately 59 homes in the area.

Upon arrival, OALE Investigators conducted an Origin and Cause investigation which led them to 480 Mussett Bayou Drive. Additionally, OALE Investigators conducted a neighborhood canvass and interviewed multiple witnesses related to the fire and associated property damage.

Results: Upon OALE Investigators completing their investigation into the Origin and Cause of the fire, they were able to determine that Allen Smith (58) of Santa Rosa Beach, Florida had been burning illegal/prohibited materials in a burn barrel at the rear of his property located at 480 Mussett Bayou Drive on May 5th, 2020.

The investigation further revealed that Smith did not fully extinguish the illegal fire completely before leaving the burn barrel unattended. The investigation determined the remaining hot materials inside the burn barrel escaped into the surrounding dry vegetation causing the vegetation to ignite. The dry vegetative conditions and weather patterns observed on this day allowed the fire to rapidly spread out of control causing extensive damage to wildlands and homes in the surrounding area.

Charges:

Florida State Statute 590.28 (2), Reckless burning of Lands for 1(one) count, a 2nd-degree misdemeanor.

Florida State Statute 403.161(1)(b), Open burning requirements for 1(one) count, a 1st-degree misdemeanor.

Florida State Statute 403.161 (1)(b), Burning of illegal materials, 1(one) count, a 1st-degree misdemeanor.

 

[Teresa]

SWFD

Last week we experienced a large wildfire that burned 343 acres and destroyed 34 homes.

Had it not been for the mutual aid of the following fire/rescue agencies, the outcome most certainly would have been far worse.

On behalf of Fire Chief Ryan Crawford, "Thank You" for answering the call.

We Are Our Brother's Keeper.

Thank you to the following fire rescue agencies:

North Bay Fire District
Niceville Fire Department
Okaloosa Island Fire Department
Washington County Volunteer Fire Department
Country Oaks Volunteer Fire Department
Ponce de Leon Volunteer Fire and Rescue
Ft. Walton Beach Fire Department
Destin Fire Rescue
Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District
Walton County Fire Rescue
Panama City Beach Fire Rescue
Panama City Fire Department
Argyle Volunteer Fire Department
Liberty Volunteer Fire Department
East Niceville Fire District
Florida Forest Service

 

[Teresa]

*Mussett Bayou Wildland Fire Update*

SWFD and Florida Forestry Service are still maintaining a presence and will continue to be there until this incident is 100% mitigated.

South Walton residents, guests and visitors alike will most likely still see smoke and flames for several days. However, if you see those outside of these burned areas, we ask that you call 9-1-1.

Please watch out for crews that are still working.

Thank you for your continued support.

 

[Kurt]

Mussett Bayou Wildfire Comparison

The Walton County GIS Department has made a map slider of the area affected by the Mussett Bayou Fire.

https://waltongis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/StorytellingSwipe/index.html?appid=00e1470f87b845b498817b41face4cda

 

[Teresa]

SWFD
July 6

It’s been exactly one month (May 6, 2020) since the Mussett Bayou wildfire burned through 343 acres of wildland and damaged/destroyed over 50 residential structures.

Watch the first ever release of the drone footage of the wildfire shot by SWFD Drone Pilots as it demonstrates the magnitude of the fire and how quickly and far it spread through South Walton.

The fire started on Mussett Bayou Road (north on 98) and spread down Thompson Road (south of 98) over 1 mile away.

With the majority of the damages occurring on Thomspon Road, it is easy to forget the incredible work performed by your SWFD crews at the beginning of the fire on the north side of Hwy 98 (Mussett Bayou) that resulted in no homes destroyed.

We cannot overstate the skill of our emergency responders and their dedication to protect and serve our community as it took 16 days to finally ensure this wildfire was completely extinguished and contained.

Although we are saddened at the loss of those structures, it is important to remember that no injuries or loss of life was recorded. Structures can be replaced, lives cannot.

We couldn’t have done this without our emergency partners and without the cooperation and support of our amazing South Walton Community.

Click on youtube link below to watch videos (no sound).

 

[culdeus]

What's going on back behind seagrove? Wild fire or structural fire? Been at least smoldering since early AM.

 

[elgordoboy]

What's going on back behind seagrove? Wild fire or structural fire? Been at least smoldering since early AM.

Is that where the liaison office with North Walton was located?

 

[Jimmy T]

What's going on back behind seagrove? Wild fire or structural fire? Been at least smoldering since early AM.

Prescribed burn.