Firefighters with the Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center are actively engaged with a wildfire near Dickerson City Road on Santa Rosa County’s Garcon Point.
- According to the Florida Forest Service, several structures are threatened, and Santa Rosa County Emergency Management has issued evacuation orders for residents in the area.
Three tractor-plow units, one helicopter and one fixed-wing aircraft are on scene. Three additional tractor-plow units and two single-engine air tankers are en route.
- Florida Forest Service says the fire is estimated at 65 acres.
“Residents are urged to head any warnings from emergency personnel and leave the area if asked to do so,” wrote the Florida Forest Service.
Motorists should avoid Dickerson City Road and Garcon Point Road.
“If drivers encounter smoke on the roadway, slow to a safe speed, turn on their low-beam headlights and proceed with caution,” wrote FFS. “If unsafe to continue, drivers should pull safely off the road and wait for conditions to clear.”
According to Santa Rosa County Emergency Management, the prescribed burn was conducted by the Northwest Florida Water Management District.
On Thursday, The National Weather Service issued a Fire Weather Watch for the western panhandle for Friday and Saturday, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. due to gusty conditions and low relative humidity.
- Gusty winds and dry conditions (very low relative humidity) are expected again today across the southern portion of the area and will lead to elevated fire danger.