One Injured In Seven Vehicle Highway 97 Crash
January 22, 2025
One person was injured in a crash involving seven vehicles on Highway 97 south of Walnut Hill Tuesday afternoon.
The crash happened about 2:40 p.m. on a slick, icy and snowy Highway 97 about 1.5 miles south of Tungoil Road, between Walnut Hill and Dogwood Park.
For more photos, click to enlarge.
It was reported that seven vehicles were involved, including two semi-trucks. Very little damage was obvious to the involved vehicles.
Most of the vehicles were immoveable due to snow and slick ice. Several first responder vehicles also required assistance to get out of the area.
One person was transported by Escambia County EMS to Atmore Community Hospital with injuries that were not considered to be serious. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating and has not released further details.
NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Molino Home Damaged By Heavy Snowfall
January 22, 2025
A Molino home was damaged by Tuesday’s heavy snowfall.
“My pool’s screen enclosure came crashing down completely ripping away from the house and ending up in and around the pool deck,” the homeowner told us. “Just 20 minutes earlier I was out there attempting to use a leaf blower to remove the snow build up; the snow was too heavy to blow off.”
The owner of the home on Highway 29 just north of Highway 97 said he wanted to warn others of the potential danger from heavy snow on their pool enclosures.
We received several reports from the immediate area of 8 to nearly 10 inches of snow.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Snow Photo Gallery
January 22, 2025
Here’s another gallery of reader submitted snow photos.
Look for hundreds more photos to come.
To submit your photos, email news@northe
scambia.com or send them on one of our social media channels.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
FDOT Snowplows Work Throughout The Night To Open Major Roads
January 22, 2025
The Florida Department of Transportation’s snowplows were out throughout the night to remove snow and ice from I-10 and other critical corridors to get them open as quickly as possible.
Tuesday night, FDOT closed 65 miles of I-10 from Exit 5, the Highway 90 exit, to Exit 70, Highway 285 in Okaloosa County due to snow and ice.
Photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Several Inches Of Snow Fall Across North Escambia Area (With Gallery)
January 21, 2025
Several inches of snow have fallen across northern Escambia County in Florida and Escambia County in Pensacola.
This is first of many galleries we will post on NorthEscambia.com. Send us your photos on social media or email news@northesambia.com.
Reader submitted photos for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
All Escambia County (AL) Roads, Bridges Closed
January 21, 2025
Statement from Escambia County (AL) Engineer Parker Ross at 10:13 a.m.:
“Effective immediately, all Escambia County roads and bridges should be considered impassable until further notice. Citizens are advised that when roads and bridges become impassable, all travel should be suspended or delayed. Only emergency vehicles should travel on county roads and bridges until further notice.”
As of 10:30 a.m., no road closures have been announced in Escambia County, Florida. However, snow and possibly ice are accumulating rapidly.
Pictured: Snow on a local rod Tuesday morning. NorthEscambia.com photo.
Schools, Colleges Closed Tuesday And Wednesday
January 21, 2025
Here is school closure information for the North Escambia area:
ESCAMBIA COUNTY (FL) SCHOOLS
- Escambia County Public Schools — All schools, district offices, and afterschool activities, including indoor and outdoor athletics, have been canceled for Tuesday and Wednesday. Tuesday night’s board meeting is canceled and will be rescheduled.
- Pensacola State College — PSC has closed all offices and cancelled all on-campus classes and activities on Tuesday and Wednesday. Online classes and synchronous online classes will not be cancelled, and will continue as usual. Essential personnel contacted by their supervisor should report as directed. A further announcement will be made about Wednesday.
- University of West Florida — All UWF locations will close on Tuesday and Wednesday. This includes all classes, events, campus activities and online courses. University officials will continue to monitor and update the campus community about the forecast for Wednesday, January 22.
- Camp Fire Century Youth Learning Center — Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
ESCAMBIA COUNTY (AL) SCHOOLS
- Escambia County (AL) public schools will be closed on Tuesday, January 21, and Wednesday, January 22. All sports practices, games, and extracurricular activities scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday are canceled.
- Escambia Academy will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday.
SANTA ROSA COUNTY
- All Santa Rosa County Schools and district offices will be closed on both Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22. All district after school activities for Tuesday, January 21 and Wednesday, January 22 are cancelled as well.
Check back on this story for any updates.
Need A Cold Weather Shelter?
January 21, 2025
There are no public cold weather shelters in North Escambia, but there are shelters available to Escambia County residents in Pensacola to provide relief from frigid temperatures.
Escambia County (FL):
- Waterfront Rescue Mission
- Men and women
- Open 24 hours, with expanded capacity and no charge during cold weather events
- 348 W. Herman St., Pensacola
- REAP Max-Well Respite Center
- Women with children
- Open daily, with expanded capacity during cold weather events
- Intake is from 4-6 p.m. (after 6 p.m. if accompanied by law enforcement)
- 2200 N. Palafox St., Pensacola
- My Father’s Vineyard
- Men and women (no children)
- Intake is from 4:30-6:30 p.m. (must leave by 7 a.m., with ECAT providing free transportation to Waterfront starting at 7 a.m.)
- Open Sunday, Jan. 19 through Wednesday night (Jan. 22), with operations continuing if temperatures continue to be 32 degrees or below
- 7895 Pensacola Blvd., Pensacola
Escambia County Area Transit will provide free transportation between My Father’s Vineyard and Waterfront Rescue Mission, which allows those seeking shelter to easily travel between the overnight shelter at the church and the designated warming center at Waterfront Rescue.
Through the county’s cold weather sheltering plan, Waterfront Rescue Mission is the central receiving point for anyone in need of emergency shelter when the temperature drops to 40 degrees or less. Waterfront then coordinates with other partner agencies to ensure anyone needing cold weather shelter can be accommodated.
Escambia County (AL):
- Restoration House of Atmore, 1010 East Nashville Avenue.
- Shelter will be open, Florida residents are welcome.
Santa Rosa County:
- Ferris Hill Baptist Church
- Intake from 6:30-8:30 p.m. (After 8:30 if accompanied by law enforcement)
- 6848 Chaffin St., Milton.
Using A Space Heater? Here Are Some Need To Know Tips
January 21, 2025
Escambia County Fire Rescue is encouraging residents to practice space heater safety and know the potential risks associated with home heating equipment.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, heating equipment is one of the leading causes of home fire deaths and space heaters account for 4 out of 5 home heating fire deaths.
Follow these tips to stay safe while heating your home:
- Have heating equipment and chimneys cleaned and inspected annually by a qualified professional.
- Keep anything that can burn at least 3 ft. away from heating equipment, like the furnace, fireplace, wood stove or portable space heater.
- Portable space heaters should be turned OFF every time you leave the room and before going to bed.
- Never plug a space heater in a power strip.
- Install carbon monoxide detectors to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning.
- Never use an oven to heat your home.
For portable electric heaters:
- Place them on a solid, flat surface, away from high traffic areas and doorways.
- Use and purchase heaters with an automatic shut off so if they are tipped over they will shut off.
- Plug power cords directly into outlets and never into an extension cord.
- Inspect for cracked or damaged, broken plugs or loose connections; replace before using.
Heating Fire Facts:
- Most home heating fire deaths (86%) involved stationary or portable space heaters.
- The leading factor contributing to home heating fires (27%) was failure to clean, principally from solid-fueled heating equipment, primarily chimneys.
- The leading factor contributing to ignition for home heating fire deaths (54%) was heating equipment too close to things that can burn, such as upholstered furniture, clothing, mattress, or bedding.
- Nearly half (48%) of all home heating fires occurred in December, January and February.
Need a free smoke detector in Escambia County? Call (850) 595-HERO.
Early Voting Sites Closed Tuesday And Wednesday
January 21, 2025
All early votings sites in Escambia County are closed Tuesday and Wednesday due to the winter weather.
The seven early voting locations will reopen Thursday, January 23 through Saturday, January 25, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Early voting sites are:
- Escambia County Extension Services, 3740 Stefani Road, Cantonment
- Molino Community Center, 6450 Highway 95A North, Molino
- Bellview Library, 6425 Mobile Highway, Pensacola
- Asbury Place at Cokesbury, 750 College Blvd, Pensacola
- Supervisor of Elections Office, 213 Palafox Place, Second Floor, Pensacola
- Main Library, 239 N. Spring Street, Pensacola
- Southwest Library, 12248 Gulf Beach Highway, Pensacola
Eligible voters may choose any one of the seven available locations, each of which is also equipped with a ballot marking device.
Three Early Vote locations that were open during the 2024 Election Cycle will not be open for the 2025 Special Primary Election. Those three locations are:
- Billy G. Ward Courthouse in Century
- UWF Center for Fine and Performing Arts in Pensacola
- Brownsville Community Center
The 2025 Special Primary Election is for Republican voters only. The State of Florida holds closed primary elections, meaning only registered Republicans will be eligible for the 2025 Special Primary Election.
Pictured: Early voting at the Molino Community Center during the 2024 election cycle. NorthEscambia.com photo, click to enlarge