VOLUSIA CONTINUES TO KEEP CAUTIOUS EYE ON FIRES

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July 7, 1998--noon
Cindy Hancock Finney
Community Information Specialist

VOLUSIA CONTINUES TO KEEP CAUTIOUS EYE ON FIRES

Lightning strikes combined with much needed rain Monday proved a mixed blessing for Volusia County's wildfire battle, but fire officials continued to be cautiously optimistic the situation is improving.

"We hope in the next few days to really get a handle on this," said Volusia County Deputy Fire Chief Jim Mauney. "Providing Mother Nature participates with our endeavors, we should do quite well."

So well, in fact, that if the current streak continues, Mauney predicted Fire Services will decide Friday if it should demobilize firefighting forces. About 2,000 personnel from a variety of agencies are working here, he said.

Lightning sparked 13 fires Monday afternoon, none of them serious, and rain finally drenched some key hot spots. Firefighters Tuesday were continuing to keep a close eye on Plantation Pines and northeast Volusia, a fire north of the Town of Pierson, Crane Swamp south of Edgewater and the Lake Ashby area. So far, 137,000 acres have burned or are burning, an estimated 19 percent of the County's total acreage not including water.

The U.S. Forest Service reported that fires in the County are 25 percent contained, meaning lines have been dug around the blazes and there is no brush or fuel within those lines for the fire to burn. Also, infrared photos of the County taken Monday night indicate the fires are dropping in temperature or cooling off.

In other fire related news:

Voluntary evacuations have been lifted for areas in the City of Ormond Beach and the City of Daytona Beach. Twelve voluntary evacuations remain for areas in Edgewater, the town of Pierson and unincorporated Volusia County.

All shelters have been placed on standby or closed. The Citizens Information Center will be open from 6 a.m.-midnight instead of around the clock.

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