Late Sunday saw three wildfires erupted in the Florida Panhandle, adding another veterans nursing home to the growing number of evacuated homes.
Monday’s Florida Forest Service announcement stated that evacuation orders for more than 1,000 homes affected by the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, and Adkins Avenue Fire, would continue to be in effect.
Both fires started Friday. According to Bay County Emergency Services, Florida, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire contained about 12,000 acres and was 20 percent contained. The Adkins Avenue Fire contained about 841 acres and was 40 percent contained.
According to the Florida Forest Service, a third fire, known as the Star Avenue Fire started Sunday. It was 250 acres in size and 45 percent contained Monday. The fire forced the evacuation from Panama City of the 120-bed Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans’ Home Nursing Home.
Officials now refer to the three fires as the Chipola Complex.
Florida Gov. Florida Governor
According to the Forest Service, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire showed “extreme activity for two days” as steady winds pushed it through thick, dead, and dry trees and vegetation. “… Today will bring the same winds, but an increase of humidity and cloud cover may help to reduce intensity.
Hurricane Michael 2018 directly caused 16 deaths and approximately $25 billion of damage. According to the Forest Service, it left behind 72 million tonnes of trees that were destroyed and have been used as fuel for the Bay County wildfires. The state has 171 wildfires that cover more than 15,000 acres.
