Wildfires Prompt Widespread Evacuation in Bay County of the Florida Panhandle

Wildfires across the Florida Panhandle have led to widespread evacuation, travel disruption, and infrastructural damage over the weekend.

Firefighters are battling approximately 150 wildfires wherein the Adkins Avenue fire and the Bertha Swamp Road fire are the largest of them all.

Local authorities are reportedly alarmed about the occurrence and magnitude of these wildfires as early as March; since Florida has yet to enter its full wildfire season, which typically runs from April to May.

So far, there were no immediate reports of casualties during the wildfires.

Bay County Fires

(Photo : David McNew via Getty Images)

According to ABC News, the so-called Adkins Avenue fire and Bertha Swamp Road fire have already engulfed a total land area of 9,841 acres (3,982 hectares) in Bay County, Florida, over the weekend.

Along with around 150 wildfires, Florida prematurely entered its wildfire season from April to May.

The wildfires, in general, have led to the widespread displacement of more than 1,000 homes in Bay County located in the Florida Panhandle or Gulf coast.

The authorities are not certain when residents can return to their homes since the wildfires have been raging from Friday to Sunday, March 4 to March 6.

The total land area affected by the wildfires is 12,100 acres (4,900 hectares) across the state.

Emergency services and evacuation operations are ongoing due to the large-scale threat posed by the wildfires, with evacuations likely to continue in the coming days.

Also Read: Study Shows How Wildfire Triggers Major Forest Changes

The Adkins Fire and Bertha Fire

As of Sunday afternoon, the 841-acre Adkins Avenue fire is still not extinguished as firefighters have only controlled the fire under 35% containment.

As per the Panama City News Herald, the fire has caused an ongoing evacuation order and affected some Panama City and Springfield areas.

Helicopters from the Florida Forest Service dropped over around 470,000 liters of water to quell the Adkins Avenue fire-which has been engulfing the area since Friday, as per ABC News.

In addition, firefighters across the state have been deployed into the area.

Meanwhile, the Bertha Swamp Road fire is only 10% contained, according to the Bay County, Florida Emergency Services, as cited by the Panama City News Herald.

This wildfire is larger than the Adkins Avenue fire.

Wildfire Season and Causes

Although the wildfire season in Florida normally falls between April and May, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) said wildfires in the states can transpire throughout the year.

The FDACS highlighted escaped debris burning as one of the major causes of wildfires in the state.

Wildfires can come in the form of bush fires and forest fires. These fires often result in environmental damage, including the destruction of wildlife populations, natural habitats, and ecosystems.

The contested causes of wildfires attribute to human-related activities.

According to the National Park Service (NPS), almost 85% of wildfires across the United States are caused by human activities, including arson, campfires, and discarded cigarettes.

When it comes to natural causes, the NPS mentioned lightning can also trigger a wildfire.