CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – Clay County and state fire officials warned residents Tuesday that a massive wildfire burning near the Clay–Putnam county line could be just the beginning as exceptionally dry conditions and gusty winds fuel what’s expected to be a long—and busy—wildfire season.
The “unpredictable” Railroad Fire — created when the Crews Road Fire in Clay County and the Railroad Complex Fire in Putnam County merged — had grown to about 4,112 acres and was roughly 50% contained as of Tuesday afternoon, according to the Florida Forest Service.
The blaze is burning through a mix of wooded land and recently clear-cut areas thick with underbrush.
WATCH: Press play below to watch state, local officials give update on Railroad Fire
At a news conference in Clay County, Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan said the state is experiencing some of the driest conditions in a quarter-century, with drought conditions statewide that he said are unlike anything he has seen in his career.
With little rain expected and the traditional peak of Florida’s fire season still ahead, Dolan said agencies are bracing for eight to 10 more weeks of high fire activity.
“The peak fire season is not here yet,” Dolan said, noting that lightning — a frequent ignition source later in the season — has not arrived.
Protect your home
He urged homeowners to create defensible space around their properties so firefighters have a better chance to protect structures when fires spread quickly.
“The fire service cannot be everywhere,” Dolan warned. “It’s a landowner and a homeowner’s responsibility to take care of themselves and protect themselves. Give firefighters a chance to save your property, because without that defensible space, we don’t have much of a chance.”
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said creating that space starts by cleaning your roof and gutters and making sure you don’t have clutter around your home that could catch fire and burn your property.
“The most important thing we’re going to do in any of these fires is save lives. The second most important thing we’re going to do is save property, and that’s the way we look at it. We’ve done our part,” Simpson said. “We’ve got two more months of this fire season, and we’re asking everyone to do their part here in the State of Florida to make sure that this doesn’t get out of control.”
Simpson said the state has positioned wildfire-fighting equipment in Tallahassee, Coral City, Cecil Field in Jacksonville and Lake City to shorten response times in “physically constrained” counties.
Clay County Emergency Management Director Tim Devin urged residents to plan for rapid evacuations if conditions shift. He said if the winds shift, families could have only minutes to evacuate.
“If you only have 5 minutes to leave your home, what would you take?” Devin asked. “Do you have your kids ready? Do you have your medications ready? Do you have everything ready that you can hop in the car and leave?”
He also reminded residents of something that Florida Division of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie said on Monday: Keep your car fueled up and ready to go.
“Right now, half is the new empty. If you are at half, go ahead and fill that tank up so you are ready,” Guthrie said.
Don’t spark a new fire
Simpson also urged residents across the state to be extremely careful as the drought continues over the next two months.
“If you are listening to this, we need everyone to know: If you see a fire, please say something. If you’re mowing your lawn, make sure that it doesn’t spark and catch a fire behind you,” Simpson said.
The following Northeast Florida counties are under a burn ban: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Nassau, Putnam, St. Johns and Union. Duval County has a permanent ban on burning debris.
But Simpson said even those living in counties without a burn ban should use extreme caution.
“If you’re going to risk doing a fire in your backyard, make sure you put that fire thoroughly out,” Simpson said. “Do not throw cigarettes out your windows.”
Florida Forest Service spokesperson Dr. Ludie Bond said on The Morning Show on Monday that many types of outdoor activities could spark a fire.
“We actually had a fire being started by a pig roast,” she said. “There are things that people are doing with their outdoor activities that they may not realize could actually throw a spark and start a fire.”
She also warned that mowing can be dangerous if the lawnmower strikes a rock and sparks a fire, dragging chains from trailer hitches could spark grass along the road and parking on dry grass should be avoided.
“With conditions so dry and extreme and the fire behavior that we’re seeing, people need to use extreme caution,” Bond said. “We are seeing extremely unusual but very erratic fire behavior right now.”
A call center has been set up in Clay County at the Emergency Operations Center. The number is 1-877-CLAY-EOC.
Devin also urged residents to download the Safer Watch App and to monitor alert.claycountygov.com for the latest updates and evacuation orders.
How you can help
Anyone who would like to donate food and drinks to working firefighters may do so from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Clay County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall 2, 2463 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs.
Devin said the donation drop will reopen again on Wednesday.
Items like water, sports drinks and prepackaged snacks are most needed.
Evacuations, closures
Voluntary evacuations are in effect north of Bostwick for residents along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail.
The Bostwick Community Center, located at 125 Tillman St. in Palatka, has been set up as a shelter for evacuees.
In Clay County, Shiloh Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs is the host shelter, Devin said.
“If we do have to evacuate anybody, we have an immediate partnership where we can send them to,” he said.
The Coast Guard issued a Marine Advisory on Tuesday morning because of zero visibility on the St. Johns River near Bostwick and north into Clay.
Decoy Road in Clay County remains closed except to residents, and as of 8:40 a.m., West Tocoi Road from Eagle Creek into Clay County was closed.
“Unfortunately, until we get a change in either the weather conditions or we get some rain, which doesn’t seem likely, we have to keep those advisories in place to make sure we have comfortable areas for our trucks to get into and also for people not to be in danger,” said Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock.
The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has offered to take in animals needing to evacuate because of the fires for $25 a night to cover the cost of stripping the stalls and two bags of shavings.
The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is also offering a safe place for horses in their paddocks, according to the Putnam County Sheriff’s Office. For more information, contact Barn Manager Crystal at 386-336-3435.