Wildfires throughout the Florida Panhandle this weekend led to widespread evacuations, travel cancellations and infrastructure damage.
More than 1.000 homes were evacuated in Bay County, Fla., this weekend as two fires ravaged the area, including a 9.000-acre wildfire that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called “a big boy.” Veterans from a care home were among those who were evacuated.
The Adkins Flame and the Bertha Flame
Florida Forest Service officials said no timeframe was set for when the residents could return to their homes.
Until Sunday afternoon, the fire at its 841-acre Adkins Avenue home hadn’t been put out yet because the fire department has only 35 percent control of the fire.
Residents at the Clifford Chester Sims State veterans’ nursing home, a 12-bed facility in downtown Panama City, were bused by federal transportation.
In cases of natural causes this lightning can cause also conflagration.
Huge wildfires in the Florida Panhandle force veterans in a nursing home to evacuate Sunday alongside residents of more than 1,000 homes in an area still recovering from a Category 5 hurricane three years ago https://t.co/Fl4mszhLRB (via AP)
— Bloomberg (@business) March 7, 2022
#BerthaSwampRoadFire remains active this morning. We have 17 dozers on the 8,000-acre fire, and it's 10% contained. Additional FFS resources, as well as 4 helicopters from the @FLGuard, are en route. Follow @FFS_Chipola for ongoing updates. pic.twitter.com/bWytVd9rNf
— Florida Forest Service (@FLForestService) March 6, 2022
@FLForestService helicopters have dropped more than 103,000 gallons of water fighting the #AdkinsAvenueFire since Friday. This 1,400-acre fire is now 35% contained with 25 tractor/plow units actively fighting the blaze. Follow @FFS_Chipola for ongoing updates. pic.twitter.com/B5hSiyuPyu
— Florida Forest Service (@FLForestService) March 6, 2022
Due to the impacts caused by local fires within the surrounding off-base areas of Tyndall AFB, Air Force Aid Society is providing a $600 grant for lodging, gas and food for eligible families affected by county mandated evacuations with a financial need. https://t.co/n5iqnYJLpB pic.twitter.com/b1WMRPbD0p
— George Gainer (@SenatorGainer) March 6, 2022
#STARAVEFIRE The Star Ave Fire is now 163 acres and there are seven bulldozers working to suppress it. High winds and dry conditions are causing rapid spread.
For evacuation information, follow @BayCountyEM. pic.twitter.com/zVaKq0iSWg— FFS Chipola (@FFS_Chipola) March 6, 2022
More accurate mapping has resulted in a decrease in total acres burned on the #AdkinsAvenueFire. The total is 841 acres, 35% contained at this time. https://t.co/lI2Yh2Kltz
— Florida Forest Service (@FLForestService) March 6, 2022
