WILDFIRE ALERT
WILDFIRE ALERT
County: Okeechobee Name of Fire: Trooper Date Reported: 3/5/17: 1810
Acreage: 545
Containment %: 100
Threatened: Nothing
Evacuations: NONE (Please contact
local Law Enforcement for more information)
Fire Cause: Incendiary
Type of Vegetation: Grass
Location: West of NW 160th
Drive & South of NW 256th Street
Personnel on Scene:
Florida Forest Service
(State Wildland Firefighters)
Okeechobee County Fire
Rescue (yesterday)
During a wildfire, if there is a safe way for firefighters to access the area with engines, they can use water to cool the wildfire or extinguish hot spots.
If the woods are too thick and engines cannot safely gain access to the wildfire, control lines are created around the wildfire by FL Forest Service bulldozers. By creating control lines around the wildfire, the bulldozer’s plow removes vegetation and leaves a strip of bare soil that stops the spread of the wildfire.
Wildfire Summary:
On 3/5/17, County & State Firefighters responded to a
wildfire in Starvation Slough managed by South Florida Water Management District. Firefighters contained the wildfire by keeping the wildfire inside the marsh.
State Wildland Firefighters arrived on scene on 3/6/17; due to the high winds and wet terrain the wildfire spread past the firefighting bulldozer containment lines constructed on
3/5/17. Re-assessing tactics, State Wildland Firefighters
determined a direct attack in wet terrain could compromise heavy firefighting apparatus. Therefore, an indirect tactic of fighting fire with fire was orchestrated. Burning out the vegetation to minimize the chances of rekindling.
Containment versus Controlled?
Contained - The status of a wildfire suppression action signifying that a control line has been completed around the fire, and any associated spot fires, which can reasonably be expected to stop the fire’s spread. The percentage goes up corresponding to containment line plowed by FL Forest Service dozer-plow unit.
Controlled= Dead Out.
Safety Message:
Do you know the seven (7) HIGHLY flammable vegetation
types in South Florida? In the south, green and healthy plants aren’t always flame resistant. In fact, many of the greener plants local to the southern region burn more intensely than dry and dead vegetation. Combine this with the south’s year- round fire danger and you find that it is important to ALWAYS keep your home landscaped with Firewise principals in mind.
Not only is it imperative to clear back dead and dry plant material, but you also need to think about the flammability of the healthy plants within your home ignition zone. Trade in your palmettos and wax myrtles for the less flammable
plants. Your yard can be lush and beautiful AND Firewise learn more at www.FreshFromFlorida.com search "When Nature is Your Neighbor" publication.
For updated Information–Please follow me on twitter @ FFS_Okeechobee
Reported by:
Melissa Yunas, Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Okeechobee District, Florida Forest Service
Cell (772) 260-0053
