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Courtesy graphic / The Volusia County map at left shows the fire locations with active wild fires in bright red and mop op fires in yellow.
DELAND -- The weekend thunderstorms were both a blessing and a curse in the fight against wild fires, bringing much needed rain, but with lightning strikes, igniting new blazes across Volusia County's rural areas.
Firefighters from multiple agencies and Division of Forestry are working 65 brush fires in Volusia County. There are six active fires and the remaining 59 fires are in the mop-up or monitoring stages. Lightning ignited 14 new fires Saturday.
"Personnel from county and city fire departments numbering 32, along with 15 apparatus, are battling six active fires totaling 2,871 acres," Volusia County spokeswoman Michelle Coats said.
There is a high likelihood that more lightning-caused fires will erupt as a result of thunderstorms that moved through the area Friday and Saturday. Predicted weather conditions for today have put fire officials on alert.
“Low humidity and predicted wind patterns along with the dry conditions are expected to set the scene for serious fire dangers tomorrow,” said Jeff Smith, Volusia County Fire Services incident command/division chief. “That means that fires could be extremely difficult to contain. Residents are encouraged to be aware and monitor our website – Volusia.org – and local media outlets.”
The most significant fires today are:
● Reed Ellis Fire Location: Reed Ellis Road and Enterprise-Osteen Road, Osteen This fire, in a swampy area near a large horse farm and several homes, started June 18. It has burned 310 acres. It is 100 percent contained and being mopped up.
● Little Haw Creek Fire Location: S.R. 40 and S.R. 11, west of Ormond Beach This fire, which started June 15, covers 410 acres and is 60 percent contained.
● Maytown Road Fire Location: Osteen-Maytown and Ila roads, Osteen This 2,397-acre fire has been burning since June 13 in a heavily wooded area and is 100 percent contained.
● Leffler Landing Location: Off S.R. 415, Osteen This fire covers 22 acres, which started June 18, and is 100 percent contained with a secondary containment line.
● 442 West Location: S.R. 442 west, Edgewater This fire covers 24 acres and is 100 percent contained.
● Saddle Club Estates Location: S.R. 415, Samsula This fire covers seven acres, which started June 18, and is 100 percent contained and being mopped up.
● South Moon Location: Astor This fire covers 11 acres, which started June 18, and is 80 percent contained.
Contained means that there is a line around the fire and the fire is staying within that line. It does not mean that the contained fire is out. With changing weather conditions a “contained” fire can become an active fire. There are no evacuations or road closures at this time.
Residents should call 9-1-1 if they see active flames or heavy columns of smoke, but they should not report widespread or generally smoky conditions.
Fire officials urge residents to remain informed about current conditions and warnings by checking www.volusia.org/pin and listening to local news media outlets. They should review personal preparedness plans, make checklists, stock disaster supply kits, and be prepared to evacuate quickly if homes are threatened.
For updated fire information, visit volusia.org or call 386-740-5187.
NSBNews.net, also known as VolusiaNews.net, provides Volusia County 24 / 7 Internet newspaper coverage, 100% free with breaking news, news of record and investigative reports from New Smyrna Beach, FL, for a 21st-century digital world.