Florida's growing wildfire problem
As more homes are built in rural areas, the options for controlled burns to eliminate brush are limited.
from the May 11, 2007 edition
Page 3 of 3
In addition, lightning was blamed for three fires Saturday in and around the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge. By Wednesday, employees were packing up documents there in case of an evacuation.
Together, the Okefenokee fires have burned more than 40,000 acres. One of those fires crossed into Florida, forcing the evacuation of Taylor.
Also, hundreds were evacuated in Charlton County, and some roadways were closed because of poor visibility.
"One of the big problems that we're having: Our fire hasn't grown in acres in the past five days, but we have a lot of reburning with this wind," Bielenberg says. "And so there's been a lot of embers that have been on the ground in the organic soil.... With the wind, it's caused [the fire] to return."
On Thursday, Georgia fire investigators charged two juveniles with arson in connection with smaller fires in the area. Bloodhounds discovered a footprint at one of the fire scenes, Bielenberg says.
Florida and Georgia have endured the most activity this fire season, says Ms. Davis of the National Interagency Fire Center, but in Los Angeles, a brush fire ignited Tuesday in Griffith Park. The fire threatened homes in the Los Feliz neighborhood, and evacuations were ordered for 150 homes, the Los Angeles Zoo, the Gene Autry Museum, and other locations.
Back in Taylor, Fla., Breeding didn't know as of Wednesday evening when she and her husband could return home. She can't imagine losing it, but says, "To a degree, a home is a material possession." She adds, "You can always replace that, but you can't replace your life."
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