Wildfire leaves wake of devastation in Bryceville

2 homes destroyed, 8 damaged in massive Nassau County fire

BRYCEVILLE, Fla. – Two homes once occupied by families were left charred piles of embers Thursday, and six more homes were damaged by a massive wildfire that raged through the Bryceville area.

Among the charred debris, air-conditioning units, tools, tractors, furniture and picture frames could be seen as news crews were escorted down County Road 119 and County Road 121.

At one of the homes, which was burned down to the beams, the family pickup truck could be seen with the tires melted away and nothing left by the frame. The home on C.R. 119 was surrounded by woods that were still smoldering Thursday afternoon.

WATCH: Community returns, reacts to wildfire

“From what we understand, they were trying to fight it. They worked with the garden hose and tried to defend their structure, and it just wasn't defendable,” said Annaleasa Winter at Florida Forest Service. “(It's) too close to the woods, not an afterthought to pull space. The fire was very intense and moving very quickly, producing a lot of embers, and it was just a hopeless situation.”

The homeowner and her family eventually heeded warning to evacuate.

"I was barefoot (and wearing) a short-sleeved shirt. I had no teeth in my mouth and I got the kids and the dog and we got the hell out," said Mary Crews, who had lived in the home for 18 years.

As firefighters continued to battle the blaze near his home, they too had to head for cover.

“When we approached the structure, it was about 50 to 60 percent engulfed at that time, and ammunition started to cook off or started to fire, if you will, along with a propane canister,” Florida Highway Patrol Sgt. Dylan Bryan said.

Nearly 24 hours later, when they got word they could return home Thursday afternoon, Crews found out that her home, where she lived with her daughter, son-in-law and grandson, was no longer there.

"(I'm) numb. I can't believe it happened. We had two minutes to get out," Crews said. 

As her family looked for any memorabilia they could salvage, the widow found a little hope when someone discovered her late husband's retirement gift from Dow Chemical in Jacksonville. 

"He got this watch. It was a Rolex," she said.

Crews, her neighbors and her son-in-law, Paul Megois, spent hours sifting through the rubble. When they were finished, the only things they could save all fit in one dustpan. 

"I was out of town on business. They were all here, and they literally got out thanks to the local fireman as the house caught fire," Megois said. "Everything else we can rebuild. That's what Bryceville does."

One of Crews's family members is also recovering from an injury and GoFundMe account has been set up to help with his medical expenses. 

Other families in Bryceville were also feeling the pain in the aftermath of the wildfire.

About a half-mile away from Crews' property, the fire broke lines on another property. News4Jax spoke with Cody, a father of three who works in law enforcement. He said the fire tore through half of his home, which will likely have to be demolished. They spent the day going inside, trying to get out the items inside that were not burned. 

"We were supposed to leave for Disney this morning for spring vacation, and all this happened and put a damper on it," Cody said. "We’re going to stay with family. We got family down the road whose house didn’t get touched."

The heartbreak for Cody's children hit on two levels. 

"They don't understand it. (They're) only 1, 4 and 6. It's excitement and terrifying all at once," he said. 

But the midst of all the destruction and devastation, there's no shortage of help. 

"These are all friends. Here in Bryceville, everybody's family," Crews said. 

Resident tries to save his animals, neighbor's pets

One man, who lives on Lollys Way off C.R. 121, told News4Jax he saw flames coming and tried to save his livestock and his neighbor's pets.

“I ended up going to his house, and I called him, and I said, 'Man, I can hear it coming through the woods,'” Eric Yates said. “He goes and kicks the back door and gets the dogs, so I got them and loaded them up and tried coming back to my house, and the fire department had it blocked off because you could actually see 30-foot flames crossing the road.”

Yates' wife, Laura, said she was scared for her life Wednesday night as she fled from the raging forest fire with their 8-year-old son, who suffers from severe asthma.

“I grabbed his nebulizer, ran out of the house, got the animals, and my neighbor was running from her house because hers was -- the flames were coming across here,” Laura Yates said.

She said she can still see the image in her mind of the fire ripping toward her home. She said once she got her son out of harm's way, she moved to her livestock.

Eric Yates said he couldn't get back to Laura and their son and had to spend the night in a ballpark, worrying.

He said they made it to his mother-in-law's home, which he said might have saved their lives.

The Yates family was among the 150 residents displaced by the nearly 700-acre wildfire, which officials said was sparked by an illegal burn of household garbage.

Owners praises firefighters for saving homes

Dozens of families were affected by the wildfire -- some lost their homes entirely and others lost property that couldn't be saved. 

As residents returned to their homes Thursday afternoon, black outlines could be seen around the edges of the properties. But most of the homes were saved thanks to crews who built fire lines to try to save the structures. 

Numerous people, including Michael Newmans, praised firefighters and first responders for all the properties they did rescue.

"I think they did an excellent job and I'm amazed that so many homes are still standing. And how fast they moved people out here. It was a job well done," said Newmans, whose home survived the fire. 

Lucia Wilkinson said her home could have been one of those destroyed if not for the tireless efforts of several fire crews. Her home was among more than 250 saved by firefighters battling the blaze.

“The fire department were out there with fire hoses, and they protected my home, and I can't thank them enough,” said Wilkinson, who lives across the street from the home where the fire started Wednesday afternoon.

She said she and her husband will celebrate their 40th anniversary in two weeks and that he built their home about 38 years ago.

“It's very sentimental for me. It's got stained glass and a swimming pool,” Wilkinson said. “Our house is everything.”

She said she was out with forestry officials and police officers Wednesday night when the wind shifted and what appeared to be a 5-acre brush fire exploded into a raging wildfire. She said the fire trucks had gone to Country Road 119 and had to be called back.

“They had trucks at my house within 25 minutes or everything would have been on fire,” she said. “I want to say thank you to everyone.”

Bob Garrigus wasn't quite as lucky. He lost two barns in the blaze.

“My neighbor said my trailer and his trailer survived. The fire was literally 8 feet from it. It burned all the way up to the trailer. Got lucky there. I have no homeowners, so very fortunate,” Garrigus said.

He said the power lines at his house burned to the ground and he's anxious to find out what survived.

“I sat in my backyard and watched it for 45 minutes, but when that wind changed it was just a firestorm coming right at me,” he said. “By the time I got to the end of my driveway, I thought I saw my place burning up. It burned 8 feet from my trailer, engulfed in fire, just a blaze. And how it didn’t hit my house I just don’t know. I guess God’s looking out after me.”

Shelters house evacuees

Some people forced out of their homes had no choice but to stay in shelters overnight. That included Joey Bray and his two young sons, who were at Bryceville Baptist Church.

"I'm just praying, putting it in God's hands, praying that he takes care of it and shelters our home,” Bray said.

He said he is thankful that his family members are safe from the fire. But while he and his sons waited Thursday for answers on their home, Bray was getting updates on his neighbor.

"We just found out that he completely lost his house on Countryside acres,” Bray said. That home is right behind Bray's.

Throughout the morning, people trickled in and out of the shelter. Many came just to drop off items, such as clothes and shoes, for their neighbors.

The church has the essentials, including food and water. But there are also those items evacuees need but couldn't easily grab as they were fleeing the fire. People have been donating those items, including deodorant, soaps, shampoo, toothpaste and even medicine.

Bray said he couldn't be prouder of how his sons are handling the shelter stay.

"I couldn't ask for two better boys. I'm very blessed, very blessed,” he said.

With a lot of uncertainty ahead for his family, Bray said he's thankful to live in a tight-knit community, where people help one another.

Animals evacuate, too

Because the area under evacuation is rural, many of the residents left with their animals, including livestock and horses.

The Nassau Humane Society is setting up temporary shelters with volunteers in the community who are opening their ranches to livestock needing a place to stay.

Nassau Humane says any organization, service or person needing help should call 904-321-1647. They will give the name and number of the volunteers who best fit their need.

Residents who find stray animals needing shelter can call 904-548-0900.

Updates on lost and found pets are being posted to the Nassau County Animal Services Facebook page.

Eric Baker said he had to turn his mini horse, Butter, loose Wednesday night as he evacuated, but Butter was found Thursday by Nassau County emergency personnel (pictured).

"The fire was getting closer. I don't have a horse trailer, so I just put a halter on him," Baker said. "Horses have pretty good flight instinct, so I figured at that point that was the best thing I could do for him, just open the gates when the firefighters forced me to leave."

Baker said Butter took off down County Road 119 when he let him go and hours later, Baker's friend saw the horse on Channel 4 News and called Baker. Butter is now at C3 Ranch, where he will stay until Baker is allowed to return home.

To volunteer or donate to help the animals affected by the fire, contact the Nassau Humane Society by phone or email nhsociety@nassauhumane.org.

How you can help

As Northeast Florida residents watched their neighbors fleeing the wildfire, calls continued coming in to the News4Jax newsroom from viewers wanting to know how they can help the evacuees.

"If our home is still there, the smoke damage is going to be done to the clothes from us anyway, so anyone that can bring some clothes, we really would appreciate it,” Bray said.

CrossView Mortgage has opened its business as a drop-off point for Duval County residents who would like to donate food, non-perishables and water to the residents of Bryceville.

The business is at 301 W. Bay St. on the 14th floor. For more information, contact Christina Vaughn at 904-888-2568, 904-704-8004 or cvaughan@crossviewmorgage.com.

The American Red Cross is also accepting donations to help fire victims through its Disaster Relief fund.

The Salvation Army gathered donations Thursday at the Bryceville Library, where volunteers fed first responders.

“We want to make sure that they have what they need so they can get back out wherever they are needed to go or go get rest themselves,” said Adrian Keith of The Salvation Army. “That's what I'm doing here, assisting, the same way they are.”

The Florida Highway Patrol said donations for first responders are appreciated but asked residents not to try to take items directly to the firefighters as they're working.

Troopers said donations can be taken to the operations center at U.S. 301 and Motes Road or donors can call the hotline to coordinate donations: 904-548-0900.


About the Authors:

Jim Piggott is the reporter to count on when it comes to city government and how it will affect the community.

Ashley Harding joined the Channel 4 news team in March 2013. She reports for and anchors The Morning Show.