VOLUSIA COUNTY SITUATION REPORT # 38
(status changes made since last report shown in bold black type)
EVENT: WILDFIRES 1998
DATE / TIME: June 29, 1998 @ 1500 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 : Was extended for another seven days. Effective now until July 3, 1998
CONTACT NUMBERS FOR COUNTY EOC AND PIO: (904)254-1500
COUNTY ESF-5 FAX : (904) 258-4096
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. SIMILARLY, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN SMALLER FIRES WHICH HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UNDER CONTROL ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS SYNOPSIS.
NUMBER OF MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT FIRES CURRENTLY ACTIVE: 13
ACREAGE OF FIRES CURRENTLY ACTIVE: ESTIMATED TOTAL ACREAGE, APPROXIMATELY 80,000+
LAKE HARNEY FIRES, SE VOLUSIA OFF SR 46. This fire originated in Brevard County and entered Volusia County. It is now an imminent threat to homes in the Lake Harney area from the south.
LOCATIONS OF MAJOR/SIGNIFICANT FIRES (SEE ATTACHED MAP FOR GENERAL LOCATIONS OF THE FOLLOWING): The following list of fires are currently contained. Mop up operations have begun. No additional information on fire status since report (#35).
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. After deployment of aircraft, dozers and tractors, firefighters successfully defended the Plantation Pines subdivision from this fire. The fire is no longer an immediate threat to the subdivision and residents were allowed back. 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 set a controlled burn on the west side of this fire still remains, weather permitting. This fire has been currently contained.
2. SHUNZ ROAD (West of Port Orange) NW of Tomoka Farms subdivision and SW of county landfill off SR 415. This fire has advanced towards Pioneer Trail and SR 44 but has been contained. This fire has joined with the larger Lafayette Landing fire located to the north across I-4. This fire has been currently contained.
3. LAKE HARNEY ROAD MAYTOWN OSTEEN ROAD- This fire is in the mop up stage and is currently being handled by inmate crews.
4. SUNDY TRAIL (WEST OF NEW SMYRNA BEACH)-- The area includes Damascus Road south of SR 44 near Sundy Trail east of DeLand. This fire has been currently contained.
5. SR 40/BUCKSKIN LANE IN THE RODEO ACRES AREA, WEST OF ORMOND BEACH. The fire has joined with the Lafayette Landing Complex and the fire has been currently contained.
6 . LAKE WOODRUFF (West of Highway 17, northwest of DeLeon Springs). This fire being allowed to burn itself out and poses no threat to life or structures.
7. COUNTY ROAD 3/STONE ROAD, SOUTH OF SR 4O BARBERVILLE AREA. No apparent threat to people or buildings at this time. This fire being allowed to burn itself out and poses no threat to life or structures.
8 . RANCHETTE ROAD (west of New Smyrna Beach) south of SR 44 in the vicinity of Ranchette Road. This has joined the Lafayette Landing fire. Fire is currently contained.
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). Currently contained.
12. I-95 AND THE 275 MILE MARKER IN ORMOND BEACH. Currently contained
SUPPRESSION EFFORTS UNDERWAY : 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 control burns have been and will be set, depending on local weather conditions. The overall situation is stabilized. The Plantation Pines area was successfully defended. All fires have been currently contained within established fire lines. A unified command consisting Volusia and Flagler Counties and the City of Ormond Beach has been coordinated with DOF to begin mop up operations. This will permit local agencies to return to day to day operations. It has been determined that some fires are very suspicious in nature. Controlled burns have been started on the south side of U.S. Hwy. 92, Lake Harney and Rodeo Road. Air reconnaissance flights are being done by the U.S. Forest Service out of New Smyrna Beach and DeLand airports. There are numerous controlled burns planned today which is dependent on local weather conditions.
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 bulldozer, transport tractor, and service truck; DOT District 4, 2 people with one D6 bulldozer. The State Fire Marshal Office has sent 8 people, FLNG (Florida National Guard) has sent 28 and 2 LNO people with three 2 ½ ton trucks and 11 Humvees. National Guard resources were placed in direct support of Fire Command. Federal Incident Command (Blue Team) has provided a 38 person overhead team that arrived on Saturday. They brought 5 "hot shot" teams which consist of 20 personnel per team, and included a Type I helicopter equipped with a 2000 gal water tank, 2 Type II helicopters and 1 tactical aircraft for aerial spotting. The U.S. Forestry Service/DOF sent 104 firefighters tonight and an additional 164 firefighters will be arriving Sunday. They have provided 16 tractor plow units and 30 engines. Five PIO’s have arrived to assist with media inquiries. The Salvation Army is undertaking all field food as of Monday, 6/29/98. A new warehouse for storage & distribution has been established at the Daytona Mall (Nova Road). A National Guard contingent of 20 personnel with 6 dozers and support teams have been relocated to the Volusia County Fairgrounds.
OTHER: Two State Division of Emergency Management liaisons are on the scene.
State Division of Forestry liaison present in Fire Command
National Guard liaison present as ESF 13 in CEOC.
INJURIES / CASUALTIES
INJURIES (MINOR) TO DATE : 6 (firefighters) +1 fire contractor
FATALITIES TO DATE : 0
MISSING PERSONS TO DATE : 0
STATUS OF MISSING PERSONS : N/A
PROPERTY / INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTED
HOMES THREATENED : 6,653 homes threatened in various areas around Volusia County including 200 homes in the Lake Harney area off SR 46.
OTHER STRUCTURES DESTROYED : 15 (miscellaneous hunting camp structures)
BUSINESSES THREATENED :
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: None
ROADS CLOSED : Pioneer Trail - From State Road 415 to State Road 44 (temporary closure due to control burn).
EVACUATIONS / SHELTERS
AREA(S) EVACUATED: All areas are cleared and residents area permitted to return to their homes previously evacuated (mandatory and voluntary)
Plantation Pines access permitted for residents with proper ID.
Voluntary Evacuation of Osteen-Maytown Road/Lake Harney Area
Voluntary Evacuation of Pioneer Way off Pioneer Trail (estimate 5-6 homes).
Voluntary Evacuation of area along Independence Drive, adjacent to SR 46/Lake Harney. Return access to this area is restricted. Number of homes is unknown.
NUMBER OF HOUSEHOLDS EVACUATED: 0
NUMBER OF EVACUEES : 0
NUMBER OF SHELTERS OPEN : 0
BILLETING FOR SUPPORT CREWS :
1. DELAND MIDDLE SCHOOL - 104 CREW MEMBERS
2. DELAND HIGH SCHOOL - 100 CREW MEMBERS
3. ERAU - 37 CREW MEMBERS
4. STETSON - 174 CREW MEMBERS
5. DELTONA HIGH SCHOOL - STANDBY
SHELTER POPULATION : 0
NUMBER OF SHELTERS ON STANDBY : 4
1. PALM TERRACE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, ORMOND BEACH (FOR ELDERLY PSN)
2. SPRUCE CREEK HIGH SCHOOL, PORT ORANGE
3. DELAND YMCA
4. ORMOND BEACH
MISCELLANEOUS
STATUS OF FIREWORKS BAN AND OTHER BURN CONTROLS: Volusia County passed an ordinance on Thursday, June 25, 1998, banning the sale and 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. The Governor has issued a statewide ban on fireworks.
FINANCIAL: Daily costs are estimated at $75,000-$100,000 excluding state-wide mutual aid and additional expenditures from municipalities. Expect operations to continue for 2 weeks.
FEDERAL OVERHEAD TEAM: Efforts are underway to facilitate the transition from "mutual aid" to the Federal Overhead Team. Resources (food, lodging, etc.) are being secured, in cooperation with federal representatives, during this period.
FEEDING: The Salvation Army will be responsible for feeding firefighters starting Monday (6/29).
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