VOLUSIA COUNTY SITUATION REPORT # 27
(status changes made since last report shown in bold black type)
EVENT: BRUSH FIRES
DATE / TIME: June 25, 1998 22:00 hrs
EOC ACTIVATION LEVEL : 3
LOCAL STATE OF EMERGENCY DECLARATION : ISSUED JUNE 22, 1998 AT 1 P.M. RETROACTIVE TO JUNE 20, 1998
DATE OF EXPIRATION : June 27, 1998. It is a 7 day local state of emergency which can be extended in 7 day increments as necessary.
CONTACT NUMBERS FOR COUNTY EOC AND PIO: (904)254-1500
SUMMARY OF FIRE ACTIVITY
NUMBER OF FIRES TO DATE: 64
LOCATION(S) OF FIRES TO DATE : FIRES LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTY
DUE TO NUMBER OF FIRES AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE, REPORT FOCUSES UPON MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT FIRES ONLY. OTHER SMALLER FIRES MAY BE PRESENT AND CONTINUOUS TRACKING OF THESE FIRES IS DIFFICULT. SIMILARLY, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN SMALLER FIRES WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SYNOPSIS
NUMBER OF MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT FIRES CURRENTLY ACTIVE:
ACREAGE OF FIRES CURRENTLY ACTIVE: ESTIMATED TOTAL ACREAGE, APPROXIMATELY 58,000 - 60,000
LOCATIONS OF MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT FIRES: SEE ATTACHED MAP FOR GENERAL LOCATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING:
1. LAFAYETTE LANDINGS COMPLEX --- Includes fires previously designated as Clark Bay (west of Daytona Beach) and Lafayette Landings (east of SR 11, north of DeLand. Central Volusia County off US 92 and east of SR 11 north of DeLand. Partially contained. Creeping to the east threatening City of Daytona Beach well fields. The immediate area near Plantation Pines has again flared up causing mandatory evacuation of 197+- homes. On the ground near Plantation Pines, 16 tractors are cutting a fire line 60 feet wide around the subdivision while another 8 tractors will catch any spot fires. Small engine air tankers will drop dye and fire retardant to allow helicopters carrying 2,000 gallons buckets of water to see the target. This fire is creeping towards Highridge Estates subdivision. This fire has now joined with the fires along SR 40 and to the large fire in the middle of Flagler County. The strategy to backfire the left side of this fire still remains, weather permitting. This fire is no longer an immediate threat to the Plantation Pines area.
2. SHUNZ ROAD/GUAVA ROAD-- (West of Port Orange) NW of Tomoka Farms subdivision and SW of county landfill off SR 415. East side of Shunz Road fire is currently contained. This fire has merged with the Guava fire and is now one larger fire. The fire is heading northwest with flames visible from I-4. Voluntary relocation. This fire has advanced towards Pioneer Trail and SR 44. Though not previously reported, this fire has joined with the larger Lafayette Landing fire located to the north across I-4. The southern perimeter has been contained.
3. LAKE HARNEY ROAD MAYTOWN OSTEEN ROAD- Containment measures have been implemented. The fire continues and is expected to expand. The fire is partially contained however, there are still some hot spots.
4. SUNDY TRAIL (WEST OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH)-- The area also includes Damascus Road south of SR 44 in the vicinity of Sundy Trail east of DeLand. The Damascus Road fire is now considered separate from Sundy Trail. Fairly well contained, however a new fire located North of SR 44 has been discovered and burning out of control. This fire has now joined the Lafayette fire.
5. SR 40/BUCKSKIN LANE IN THE RODEO ACRES AREA, WEST OF ORMOND BEACH. This pre-existing fire jumped SR 40 earlier this afternoon. The status of containment unknown at this time. It has joined the Lafayette Landings fire. This last report was erroneous as the fire has not joined the Lafayette Landing fire.
6 . LAKE WOODRUFF (West of Highway 17, northwest of DeLeon Springs) Fire is partially contained.
7. COUNTY ROAD 3/STONE ROAD, SOUTH OF SR 4O BARBERVILLE AREA.. Containment status unknown. No apparent threat to people or buildings at this time.
8 . RANCHETTE ROAD (west of New Smyrna Beach) south of SR 44 in the vicinity of Ranchette Road. Fire is currently contained. This has joined the Lafayette Landing fire.
9. NINE MILE POINT AND CR 3 NEAR PIERSON/SEVILLE. Currently contained.
10. I-95 (north of U.S. 1/Ormond near Volusia /Flagler county line) Currently contained.
11. I-95 AND MAYTOWN ROAD (WEST OF OAK HILL) late afternoon thunderstorms in this general area may have started this and other, as yet undetected, fires. No change.
12. I-95 AND THE 275 MILE MARKER IN ORMOND BEACH. Currently contained
SUPPRESSION EFFORTS UNDERWAY : All fires actively being fought. None of the major fires are fully contained at this time . Local agencies currently involved in suppression activities include Volusia County Fire Services and municipal departments. The policy is to protect life first. Protection of structures will be prioritized based on field conditions. A series of backfires will be set depending on local weather conditions. The overall situation is somewhat stabilized. The Plantation Pines area was successfully defended. Focus of concern for tomorrow will be the Hunter’s Ridge area due to fires from Flagler County. Also, fires located to the west of New Smyrna Beach have been contained.
MUTUAL AID: Resources from other states are present. State ESF 4 and 9 have 107 firefighters through the Fire Chief’s Association; DOT District 7, 7 people with one D6 bulldozers, transport tractor, and service truck; DOT District 4, 2 people with one D6 bulldozer. The National Guard has sent 10 people with various vehicles. The State Fire Marshal Office has sent 8 people, FLNG (Florida National Guard) has sent 21 people with two (2) 2 ½ ton trucks and 8 Humvees. Additional personnel request of the state have been met however, all requested equipment has not arrived.
OTHER: State of Florida Department of Emergency Management Planning Chief and Assistant are on the scene
State Forestry and National Guard liaisons are present in Fire Command
INJURIES / CASUALTIES
INJURIES (MINOR) TO DATE : 5 (firefighters) +1 fire contractor
FATALITIES TO DATE : 0
MISSING PERSONS TO DATE : 0
STATUS OF MISSING PERSONS : N/A
PROPERTY / INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTED
HOMES THREATENED : 627 homes east and west of SR 11, and 197 homes in the Plantation Pines area
HOMES DAMAGED: 0
OTHER STRUCTURES DESTROYED : 15 (miscellaneous hunting camp structures)
BUSINESSES THREATENED : 1
BUSINESSES DAMAGED : 0
BUSINESSES DESTROYED : 0
OTHER STRUCTURES THREATENED : 0
OTHER STRUCTURES DAMAGED : 0
OTHER STRUCTURES DESTROYED : 0
VEHICLES DAMAGED : 0
VEHICLES DESTROYED : 0
INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTED: THREAT TO CITY OF DAYTONA BEACH WELL FIELDS HAVE BEEN DIMINISHED. SEE ROAD CLOSURES BELOW
ROADS CLOSED : SR 44 BETWEEN WEST PIONEER TRAIL AND INTERSTATE 4 (temporary closure due to power pole replacement)
SR 40 has been reopened from Rodeo Road to SR 11
EVACUATIONS / SHELTERS
AREA(S) EVACUATED:
VOLUNTARY
LAFAYETTE LANDINGS
RANCHETTE ROAD
SUNDY TRAIL
STONE ROAD
TOMOKA FARMS (ADJACENT TO GUAVA FIRE)
CARTER ROAD NORTH TO SR 40
LAKE HARNEY-MAYTOWN ROAD AREAMANDATORY
PLANTATION PINES - RESIDENTS ALLOWED TO RETURN AT 1930 HOURS
ABERDEEN - RESIDENTS PREVIOUSLY (TUESDAY) ALLOWED TO RETURN
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS EVACUATED: Evacuation of several hundred dwellings may occur due to various fires.
NUMBER OF EVACUEES : unknown
NUMBER OF SHELTERS OPEN : 3
1. DELAND YMCA
2. COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS FOR EVACUEES WITH ANIMALS/PETS
3. CALVARY ASSEMBLY Closed
4. ORMOND MIDDLE
SHELTER POPULATION : 10
NUMBER OF SHELTERS ON STANDBY : 3
1. PALM TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ORMOND BEACH (FOR ELDERLY PSN)
2. DELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL
3. SPRUCE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, PORT ORANGE
MISCELLANEOUS
STATUS OF FIREWORKS BAN AND OTHER BURN CONTROLS: Volusia County passed an ordinance on Thursday, June 25, 1998, banning the use of fireworks in unincorporated and incorporated areas. All vendors including those who sell fireworks in tent sales have voluntarily agreed not to sell any fireworks to individuals in Volusia County. Firework shows have been voluntarily canceled in the cities of DeLand, DeBary, Deltona, Port Orange, Edgewater, Ormond Beach. Holly Hill has issued an emergency order banning fireworks. Pierson has also passed an ordinance to ban fireworks.
FINANCIAL: Current cost estimate since June 20, 1998, is approximately $350,000. Daily costs are estimated at $60-70,000. Cost estimates do not include state-wide mutual aid and additional expenditures from municipalities. Expect operations to continue for 2 weeks.
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