CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A growing wildfire near the Clay–Putnam county line has left smoke lingering across nearby neighborhoods, including along White Tail Trail, where scorched patches of land and haze show how close the fire has come to homes.
For Darryl Hunter, who lives near the intersection of White Tail Trail and Guthrie Road, the danger wasn’t far away — it reached the edge of his property.
“We were very shocked — it was that big and that fast,” he said.
Hunter, who moved to the area about a year ago with his wife, told News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee and photojournalist Jesse Hanson the fire’s rapid spread turned an ordinary evening into a tense wait.
“Monday evening around 5:30 is when things got interesting,” he said. “It was burning east of our property, and by the next morning, it got more aggressive — burning right up to our property line.”
The fire he watched is now part of what officials are calling the Railroad Fire, a blaze that formed after two wildfires merged near the Clay–Putnam county line. As of the latest update, the fire has burned about 4,112 acres and is about 50% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Voluntary evacuation advisories remain in place in both Clay and Putnam counties.
In Clay County, that includes areas near Varney Road and Woodward Lane south of Green Cove Springs.
In Putnam County, advisories are in place north of Bostwick, including along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail, where Darryl lives.
Officials say the advisories are meant to give residents time to prepare and to ensure emergency crews have clear access to respond as conditions change.
Emergency management leaders are urging residents in those areas to be ready to leave at a moment’s notice, warning that voluntary evacuations could quickly become mandatory if the fire shifts.
They are also encouraging people to prepare now by keeping gas tanks at least half full and having a plan in place ahead of time.
The fire has been fueled by dry conditions and wind, and officials say it could continue burning for days or even weeks without significant rainfall.
Even as the flames moved closer, Hunter said crews worked to protect homes in the area.
“It was scary, very scary. We had some moments there, we weren’t sure our property was going to make it,” Hunter said. “Like I said, all of the hard work of the firefighters, they did an outstanding job. We just want to say thank you.”
For now, many residents remain in place but are closely watching conditions, knowing the situation could change quickly.
Officials say the message is simple: be prepared, stay alert, and be ready to act if conditions worsen.