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OAK HILL -- Division of Forestry officials are pleased on this Sunny Sunday afternoon that they finally have the massive Iron Horse wildfire straddling the Volusia and Brevard County borders contained, but far from extinguished or even under control.
"Containment is 100 percent," forestry spokeswoman Annaleasa Winter said just after 10 a.m.
Here is a synopsis of situation as described by Winter: So far, 16,954 acres have burned in Volusia and Brevard counties since Monday.
Photo for NSBNews.Net by Adam Walker of Oviedo / This shot was taken mid-week by a motorist southbound Interstate 95 in Oak Hill.There was Light fire activity Friday and Saturday and predicted light activity for today, all of which has allowed firefighters to make significant progress in containing the Iron Horse wildfire. Dozer crews have successfully built nearly 58 miles of 30-foot-wide fire line around the entire perimeter.
Forestry officials, however, are not resting on their laurels.
"While the fire is contained, it is far from controlled or extinguished," Winter said. "Several hot spots will continue to smoke and smolder for weeks. The hottest part of the fire is in the northern sections south of Maytown Road and northeast of the Lake Harney Subdivision. Engine crews will spend the day mopping up hot spots with water focusing efforts in the northern section and along the fire edge."
Photos by Henry Frederick / Fire spots were in numerous places along Interstate 95 as shown in the far left photo taken Thursday. A Division of Forestry crew pours water onto hot spots along I-95 southbound in Oak Hill, accompanied by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper.deal with The Division of Here are summaries of other safety related issues as of 3 p.m. Sunday as reported by Volusia County spokeswoman Michelle Coats:
INJURIES: The Division of Forestry firefighter injured Saturday was treated and released from Halifax Medical Center in Daytona Beach. He is in good condition. He received second-degree steam burns on the forehead and ear.
CLOSURES: ATVs and 4x4 vehicles are requested to stay out of the fire area to allow firefighters room to work. The Mondex area at 5A and I-95, and the Maytown Road and Maytown Spur areas will be closed to the public throughout the weekend. Motorcycles: Bikers should not ride or park motorcycles in dry grass because the heat could ignite a fire. Motorists should be extra vigilant in looking for motorcycles on the road as it may be difficult to see them in smoky conditions.
BURN BAN: Volusia County Fire Services has issued a burn ban for the county’s unincorporated areas, Lake Helen, Pierson and Oak Hill. All outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry, is prohibited. This includes the burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is the only exception
SMOKE and VISIBILITY: Smoke will remain a factor in the fire area for a long time. Residents are asked to call 9-1-1 only to report flames, not smoke. Drivers are asked to slow down and use low-beam headlights when traveling in the fire area, especially on Interstate 95 and U.S. 1.
FIRE-FIGHTING PERSONNEL: 165 firefighters are responding from the Division of Forestry, Volusia County, Brevard County, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Kissimmee, Sanford, Mims, Oak Hill, Cocoa Beach, Kennedy Space Center, Melbourne, Cape Canaveral, DeLand, Satellite Beach, Rockledge, Indialantic, Merritt Island, Melbourne, Patrick Air Force Base, Four Communities, and Environmentally Endangered Lands. Cooperating agencies include the Brevard County Sheriffs’ Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office, Florida Highway Patrol, Oak Hill Police Department, City of Oak Hill, Edgewater Police Department, The Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Office of Agricultural Law Enforcement.
EQUIPMENT: 17 engines (9 DOF, 6 USFWS, 2 BCFR); 35 dozers (30 DOF, 5 USFWS); and one helicopter.
This was the situation Saturday: Fire activity: 16,802 acres have burned in Volusia and Brevard counties since Feb. 28. As of 5 p.m. containment has been increased to 95 percent. Fire managers expected to have full containment by Sunday. Fire behavior has been light, allowing firefighters another successful day of line construction and improvement. An infrared heat detection flight picked up 17 hot spots along the fire perimeter, primarily in the northern sections of the fire, south of Maytown Road and northeast of the Lake Harney subdivision. Engine crews will use this information to determine where to concentrate their mop-up efforts. No visible flames were observed during the flight; however, there were concentrations of smoke in the swampy areas in the northern section of the fire.
Courtesy graphic / Here is the latest map from the Division of Forestry of the Iron Horse wildfire as of 4 p.m. Sunday.