MILTON, Fla. (AP) — Fire officials in Florida say helicopter and tractor units continue to battle fires in the Panhandle that have forced hundreds of residents to flee, scorched thousands of acres and razed dozens of structures.
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported that a 2,000-acre (809-hectare) fire in Santa Rosa County, just east of Pensacola, is 35% contained.
That fire forced the evacuation of 1,100 homes on Wednesday, though a few of those residents have been allowed to return to their homes. A stretch of Interstate 10 remained closed.
A 575-acre (233-hectare) fire in Walton County is now 70% contained.
🚨WILDFIRE UPDATE🚨#5MileSwampFire remains 2,000 acres, 35% contained. @FLForestService deployed Blue Incident Management Team, 18 tractor units, fixed wing, helicopter units.#MussettBayouFire is 575 acres, 70% contained.
— FL Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services (@FDACS) May 8, 2020
Santa Rosa evacuations in effect. More updates.👇
