Comments on: Firefighters Respond To Control 338 Acre Fire

By: andy

andy — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 23:37:02 +0000

Betsy and No Excuses are correct: the Florida Forest Service should never have approved the burn, given the KNOWN dry conditions. Wait a bit and do the burn after it rains. They burned when there was a High Fire Danger.

By: CW

CW — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 19:35:24 +0000

They probably should have done this when it’s not so windy and the humidity is higher. But nonetheless, I’m glad they’re keeping the Longleaf pine habitat intact by burning.

By: countrygal

countrygal — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 18:10:52 +0000

Prescribed burns prevent greater damage later when a fire breaks out. Ashes obey the law of gravity. they fall. I am in the area affected by this, but I have seen what wildfires do when a prescribed burning program is not followed. Check the Yellowstone fires of 1988-89. Ask the people in California, Idaho, and other areas in the West where prescribed burns are not allowed if they would rather have a couple of days of irritation and discomfort or have their houses and everything they owned lost to a wildfire. They only had 15 minutes to remove precious valuables, including themselves, before fires engulfed their houses.

By: cygie

cygie — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 11:15:21 +0000

@Betsy: I am sure some of those who complain about smoke never fought a fire. Also complain while smoking tobacco. Does your house not have windows? Then close them!

By: Mongo

Mongo — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:46:48 +0000

Tony is right. What has burned, will not be an uncontrolled wildfire. I estimated 20 trips with helicopter. Weather forecasts are not perfect. The are well planned events, but all variables are hard to predict.

By: No Excuses

No Excuses — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 00:28:05 +0000

@ Tony,

I agree. However, it was my understanding that this fire got out of control and as of this posting, I am STILL breathing smoke from it at my place of work.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 23:03:33 +0000

To betsy25,

Better to have a prescribed fire to reduce the fuel load now when there is plenty of firefighters around. Then have a wildfire and lose you home when fire season comes in and there are no firefighters to spare.

By: No Excuses

No Excuses — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 22:23:46 +0000

Amen Betsy! And this, after we were told not to burn because of the risk of starting an uncontrollable fire!

By: betsy25

betsy25 — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 20:42:14 +0000

I work in this area and the “prescribed” burn that is under “control” has continued for 3 hours. It’s difficult to breathe indoors. Ash has been falling the entire time. Helicopters have been making nonstop trips to scoop up water. People are feeling sick, sneezing, coughing, and have itchy eyes. Thank you Northwest Florida Water Management!