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Showing posts with label Florida Division ofForestry. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Florida Division ofForestry. Show all posts

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Who said its the start of "fireseason"?

I have been busy lately and did not get a chance to be “blogging” thanks for all of you who kept checking in. I hope you find this posting interesting.
Saw this headline story in the news ….
The National Weather Service says residents will soon forget the cool, wet spring they've been complaining about, because they are forecasting a warm, dry summer for the entire state. This weekend is also bringing the beginning of the wildfire season.
Well I hate to pop this reporters bubble but this weekend much of the south and SE coast is in the thick of an extended fireseason. But one thing the story does do is let us know there will be plenty of work for firefighters and resources for several more months to come. This seemingly never ending fireseason is really taxing people and things made of “iron”.
Thought you would be interested in a few headlines from my location right now.
WAYCROSS, Ga. -- Firefighters battling a wildfire in south Georgia discovered 339 sticks of dynamite, and a U.S. Army bomb squad was called to detonate the explosives.
FOLKSTON, GA -- A Brunswick mower manufacturer is volunteering its equipment and manpower to help protect Ware County buildings as the 267,900-acre Honey Prairie Fire continues spreading through the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.


The rain that did come a few days ago was welcomed however after a day of hot dry windy GA weather fire activity picked up.

Anyone for a swim?


These cool QR codes were from a story by one of our great reporters who has been doing a great job covering the massive wildfires. Terry Dickson with the 




I hope you all have a GREAT and SAFE 4th

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Virginia rotates crews and sends additional resources out of state

Its been 2 weeks since Virginia had sent engines and crew to FL. Plans were to rotate in fresh firefighters, however the fire our folks were assigned to in FL received some really good rains the last two evenings and so they were demobed. BUT!! there were several new fires in NC and our 5 engines and 11 fresh crew will be assigned to one of those NC fires. In addition several single resources are going to other states.


State of emergency in N.C. over wildfires
Three wildfires burning across 68,000 acres prompted Gov. Bev Perdue to declare a state of emergency in 29 eastern counties Saturday
The Pender County fire, which started with a lightning strike a week ago, continued to threaten Holly Ridge to the east and remained only about 15 percent contained.
"There are some homes that are still endangered," N.C. Forestry Service spokesman Brian Haines said. "But the threat is not imminent."

This is the fire/area that a Prevention and Education Team focusing on firewise community outreach and prevention will be working for the next 2 weeks.




As smoke lingers, Georgia forestry officials are planning prevention steps
National program educates about safety and prevention
A Wildfire Prevention and Education Team is headding to SE GA under an agreement that states can share resources. The South East and Mid Atlantic compact is sending fols from OH, VA and GA to Folkston to assist with community outreach and wildfire prevention.
Georgia Forestry Commission spokesman Eric Mosley puts it bluntly.
"Right now, Georgia can't afford any more wildfires," he said.
It has already cost more than $20 million to fight one of the fires, the nearly 300,000-acre Honey Prairie Fire in the Okefenokee Swamp. Georgia will be saddled with much of the cost of fighting a couple of others, the Race Pond Fire along U.S. 1 at the juncture of Brantley, Ware and Charlton counties and the Sweat Farm Again Fire, about 10 miles west of Waycross. Those two alone burned more than 40,000 acres and sent people fleeing from their homes on several occasions.
Those started by lightning or by accident, but some others in the area were started from prohibited trash burning. Regardless of how they start, the stress and cost of fires can be reduced, Mosley said.





Oklahoma Wildfire Forces 1,500 To Evacuate
At least 13 Comanche County homes have already been destroyed and firefighters are battling to prevent further damage.
"Crews worked diligently overnight to fully contain the fire which caused the evacuation of more than 500 homes and destroyed 13," a representative of the Comanche County Emergency Management System said Saturday in a news release.
The wildfire began on Fort Sill's West range in the impact area Thursday afternoon. The fire spread over 4,000 acres on the Fort. It eventually jumped over Highway 49 and headed to Medicine Park late Thursday evening causing numerous evacuations and destroying several homes



Florida, Georgia fires still raging
FOLKSTON, Ga. -- Sparked and spread by dry thunderstorms that are doing more harm than good, wildfires burning in southeast Georgia had communities watching nervously as flames spread overnight to destroy mobile homes in Camden County, a house and barn in Ware County and threaten about 50 homes in neighboring Charlton County.
"It's close enough to make everybody pretty nervous," said John Meyer, emergency management director for Charlton County. "We're doing a lot of praying, that's for sure."

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Funerals for Fallen Firefighters Scheduled for Friday and Saturday

Funerals for Fallen Firefighters Scheduled for Friday and Saturday

Families and Friends Plan to Celebrate the Lives and Mourn the Loss of Two Firefighters
of the Division of Forestry

Tallahassee, FL – The families of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton announced funeral arrangements today for their loved ones. Burch and Fulton were firefighters with Division of Forestry who lost their lives Monday while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County.

Funeral arrangements and graveside services for Josh Burch are scheduled for Friday, June 24.

Funeral for Josh Burch
Friday, June 24 at 10:00 a.m.
Christ Central Ministries Church
217 S.W. Dyal Road
Lake City, Florida
(386) 755-2525



Funeral for Brett Fulton
Saturday, June 25, at 10:00 a.m.
Christ Central Ministries Church
217 S.W. Dyal Road
Lake City, Florida
(386) 755-2525


The Division of Forestry is accepting letters of condolence on behalf of the families of Burch and Fulton. Please mail correspondence to:

Family of Josh Burch or Family of Brett Fulton
c/o Director Jim Karels, Division of Forestry
3125 Conner Boulevard
Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1650

Memorial Fund Information

A special Memorial Fund has been set up for Ranger Joshua Burch and Ranger Brett Fulton at FLAG Credit Union, 3115 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, Florida 32311-3813, telephone 850-488-6781, toll free 1-800-458-3524.

To make a donation to the Memorial Fund, FLAG members can use fund transfers, or you may call FLAG and use your debit card, or mail donations directly to FLAG.  You may also mail donation checks to: Florida Division of Forestry, Director Jim Karels, c/o Joshua Burch Memorial Fund or Brett Fulton Memorial Fund, 3125 Conner Boulevard, Tallahassee, FL 32399-1650, and these will be deposited in the Memorial Fund for you.  If you are sending a check, please make the check out to: Memorial Fund for Joshua Burch or Memorial Fund for Brett Fulton.

Thank you in advance for your consideration of this important matter.

Jim Karels, Florida State Forester