PANAMA CITY, Fla. — Three wildfires in the Florida Panhandle have burned through more than 13,000 acres and forced evacuations of at least 1,100 homes in an area still recovering from a Category 5 hurricane three years ago.
The Bertha Swamp Road Fire is estimated at 12,000 acres and is 10% contained as of Monday morning, according to the Florida Forest Service. The fire began in Gulf County on Friday and was pushed by winds into neighboring Calhoun and Bay counties on Saturday.
Fire officials say that steady winds and dead trees left behind by Hurricane Michael have fueled the spread of the fire, but noted that an increase in humidity and cloud cover Monday could help reduce intensity.
Gov. Ron DeSantis on Sunday called the Bertha Swamp Road fire “a big boy,” at a news conference in Panama City. “It’s moving very quickly.”
As of Monday morning, the Adkins Avenue Fire is 841 acres and 40% contained, the Florida Forest Service reports. It began burning in Bay County on Friday. Fire officials initially said it was 1,400 acres, but adjusted the size downward once they could conduct better mapping.
A third fire, the Star Avenue Fire, developed Sunday and forced the evacuation of a 120-bed, state-operated nursing home in Panama City. Fire officials say crews were able to respond quickly and no homes or structures have been damaged or destroyed by the Star Avenue Fire. As of Monday morning, the Florida Forest Service says the fire is estimated at 250 acres and is 45% contained.
The agency reports that there are currently 171 wildfires burning more than 15,000 acres throughout Florida
Local authorities say they don't know when residents will be able to return to their homes. The county opened a shelter at the Bay County Fairgrounds for displaced residents.
The Florida Forest Service urges people living in the area to follow updates from Bay County Emergency Services and register for emergency notifications.
10 Tampa Bay's Andrea Chu contributed to this report.