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Barberville Fire Update #2 The road has reopened in both directions on S.R. 40 in Barberville. VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES RESPONDS TO FIRE IN BARBERVILLE - #1 A brush fire was reported at 10:27 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14 in Barberville at S.R. 40, three miles west of C.R. 17. S.R. 40 is closed from Byrd Road to Bert Royal Road. One home has been evacuated on Bert Royal Road. VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES LIFTS BURN BAN Weekend rainfall has helped to ease the recent drought conditions in Volusia County. As of Monday, Volusia County's average drought index had dropped to 458, according to Capt. Jamey Burnsed, Volusia County Fire Services Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. (The drought index goes from zero - 800, with zero being total saturation and 800 being desert dry.) Due to the current conditions, effective Tuesday, Aug. 29, Volusia County Fire Services Director James Tauber is lifting the outdoor burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Volusia County and the cities of DeBary, Pierson, Oak Hill and Lake Helen. VOLUSIA COUNTY URGES OUTDOOR SAFETY; With conditions continuing to dry out in Volusia County, residents are reminded to be aware of the dry condition, adhere to the burn ban effective Saturday, Aug. 19, and use caution with outdoor activities. Activities such as the use of ATVs, welding equipment, mowers, as well as the improper disposal of cigarette butts potentially can spark a wildfire. "The last time Volusia County received any significant rain was during the July 4 week," said Tom Carey, pollution control manager with Volusia County Environmental Management. "We had expected to be dry in March and April. But, for May through September, we were predicted to see some rain. It seems our afternoon daily thunderstorms never really kicked in. "It's important for people to know we have mandatory watering restrictions in Volusia County," said Carey. "Our residents may water their lawns from 4 - 8 a.m. on certain days, depending on their address." The restrictions are: * Residents with odd numbered addresses may water their lawns Wednesdays and Saturdays. Homeowners without an automatic timer can water their lawns from 5 - 9 p.m. on their designated days. According to Carey, hand watering is permitted anytime. However, avoidance of hours with high evaporation (8 a.m. - 5 p.m.) is encouraged. For a recording on the water restrictions, please call (386) 736-5998. For more information or to report at violation, please call (386) 248-8115 ext. 5925 (Daytona Beach), (386) 736-5925 (West Volusia), (386) 424-6815 ext. 5925 (New Smyrna Beach) or email bdonofrio@co.volusia.fl.us VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES ISSUES OUTDOOR BURN BAN Due to ongoing dry conditions throughout Volusia County, Volusia County Fire Services has issued an outdoor burn ban for unincorporated area of Volusia County effective Saturday, Aug. 19. The ban also applies to the cities of DeBary, Pierson, Oak Hill and Lake Helen. Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry, is prohibited. This includes the burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is the only exception. According to James Tauber, Volusia County Fire Services director, the ban was necessary due to continued prolonged periods with no significant rain, the drying out of vegetation, high temperatures and daily above-normal wind conditions. "We are above 600 on the drought rating on the Keech Byram Drought Index," said Tauber. "And, in some parts of the county, particularly in the central areas of the county, we are in the 700s." (The drought index is on a scale of 1 to 800 * with one being saturation and 800 being desert dry.) Violations of the ban are punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to 60 days. Personnel from Volusia County Fire Services will issue violation notices to any person violating the burn ban and also will extinguish any fire not authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry. OSTEEN-AREA FIRE; Firefighters from Volusia County Fire Services and the Division of Forestry spent Thursday widening the fire lines and "mopping-up," the 40-acre brush fire in the Osteen area. Within 20-feet of the fire lines, crews are wetting the vegetation with water and foam and/or using hand tools to bring the mineral soil to the surface, thereby cutting the fuel for the fire. Fire crews responded to the fire Wednesday that broke out in the area of Guise Road and Cypress Isles Road in Osteen. There were no reports of injuries or structure loss. Firefighters are expecting some flareups with the fire, according to Deputy Chief Kathy Weaver, Volusia County Fire Services. However, as of 4 p.m., Thursday, the fire has remained within the fire line. Residents in the area are advised to expert continued smoke conditions until significant rain is received. Conditions in Volusia County remain unusually dry and the county's present drought rating on the Keech Byram Drought Index is 532. (The drought index is on a scale of 1 to 800 - with one being saturation and 800 being desert dry.) Residents are urged to be extremely cautious with outdoor ignition sources. "We have not been having the typical daily afternoon thunderstorms," said Weaver. "Unfortunately, this is causing much of our area to dry out again. And, when we have had some thunderstorms, we have had lightning that can and has sparked additional fires. The lightning also can cause flareups in areas where a fire has been extinguished." Residents in the county are urged to be aware of the dry conditions and recognize the need to reduce or eliminate non-essential burning of trash and yard waste and to be cautious with outdoor activities. Activities such as the use of ATVs, welding equipment, mowers, as well as the improper disposal of cigarette butts can potentially spark a wildfire. With outdoor cooking fires, residents should ensure they are completely out by using water to soak the fire thoroughly. Additional points for wildfire safety can be found at http://www.volusia.org/fireservices/firetips.htm. OSTEEN FIRE UPDATE NO. 2 The Division of Forestry has cut lines all around the fire and will continue widening the lines. The fire is estimated at 25 to 30 acres. Three homes on Uranus Trail are still evacuated. OSTEEN FIRE UPDATE NO. 1 The fire is about 25 acres and moving east. There are 10 to 15 homes in the area. Three structures on Uranus Trail have been evacuated. People in other nearby homes have been evacuating voluntarily. The Division of Forestry is working to cut lines around the fire. There are 18 units on scene, plus a DOF helicopter and three tractors. The fire units are protecting the structures. Agencies on scene: News media staging area: OSTEEN FIRE - INITIAL REPORT Firefighters from four agencies have responded to a 25-acre wildfire between Guise Road and Cypress Isles Road in Osteen. It also is affecting nearby Uranus Trail and Lemon Bluff Road. The fire was reported at 1:49 p.m. today. No evacuations have been ordered at this time. Responding agencies are Volusia County Fire Services, Volusia County Firewalkers, Division of Forestry and Deltona Fire Rescue. Additional news will be reported as it comes in.
VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES LIFTS BURN BAN; Fire officials are starting to breathe a little easier in Volusia County. A combination of Tropical Storm Alberto and afternoon thunderstorms has eased the recent drought conditions. Volusia County's average drought index has dropped to 414 as of Thursday, May 29, according to Capt. Jamey Burnsed, Volusia County Fire Services Wildfire Mitigation Specialist. The drought index goes from zero - 800, with zero being total saturation and 800 being desert dry. Due to the current conditions, effective Friday, June 30, Volusia County Fire Services Director James Tauber is lifting the outdoor burn ban for the unincorporated areas of Volusia County and the cities of DeBary, Pierson, Oak Hill and Lake Helen. "We finally are starting the see the effects of Tropical Storm Alberto and the afternoon thunderstorms," said Burnsed. "While we still have some small areas in the County that are dry, overall the drought conditions are subsiding. With the public's continued vigilance, hopefully we'll put this wildfire season behind us." Fire officials urge the public to use common sense this holiday weekend with outdoor burning and to practice extra caution and safety. The recommended way to enjoy fireworks is to visit a public fireworks display put on by professionals who know how to handle fireworks safely. Children should be supervised around fireworks at all times. VOLUSIA COUNTY WILDFIRE CONDITIONS While fire officials are happy Tropical Storm Alberto brought much needed rain to Volusia County, they are maintaining it will take several regular rain events to bring the 2006 wildfire season to a close and lift the burn ban. Currently in Volusia County there are 12 wildfires that are being monitored and actively fought when they flare up, according to Capt. Jamey Burnsed, Volusia County Fire Services Wildfire Specialist. Volusia County's average drought index is 545. However, in some areas of the county the index is 703. The drought index is on a scale of 1 to 800 * with one being saturation and 800 being desert dry. "Tropical Storm Alberto fortunately cooled and dampened the existing wildfires," said Burnsed. "However, we are having new wildfires. In fact, we had a new one yesterday in the southeast area of the county that grew to 10 acres." Fire officials continue to urge the public to be cautious with outdoor activities. Activities such as the use of ATVs, welding equipment, mowers, and the improper disposal of cigarette butts can spark a wildfire. While outdoor cooking with a contained gas or charcoal grill is allowed, the burn ban in Volusia County prohibits all other outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry. This includes land clearing, acreage burns, the burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires and cooking fires. (Effective May 12, Volusia County Fire Services issued an outdoor burn ban for unincorporated areas of Volusia County. The ban also applies to the cities of DeBary, Pierson, Oak Hill and Lake Helen.) NSB Monitoring Alberto June 12, 2006 EOC * The EOC was partially activated at 4 p.m. today to monitor Tropical Storm Alberto and to make necessary preparations for potential effects from the storm. NOTE: This will be the only release this evening unless conditions change. NEW INFORMATION The homes on Mitnik Drive affected by today's storm (see below) are in Enterprise, not Deltona as previously stated. VOLUSIA COUNTY COMMUNITY INFORMATION TWO DELTONA HOMES DAMAGED BY STORM ACTIVITY A microburst or possibly small tornado touched down on Mitnik Drive, Deltona at approximately 1:15 p.m. today. No injuries were reported. The storm damaged two homes on the shore of Little Lake in Deltona. At 318 Mitnik Drive, half the home's roof was detached by strong winds. Next door at 332 Mitnik Drive, the storm's winds pushed a boat parked in the home's driveway into a nearby car on the same property. Winds also blew the chimney from the rooftop, damaging shingles. Volusia County Fire Services and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene, assessing the homes for structural and fire hazards and assisting homeowners' in salvaging belongings. The American Meteorological Society defines a microburst as a downburst (an area of strong, often damaging winds that produce a convective downdraft) that covers an area less than 4 kilometers along a side with peak winds that last two to five minutes. (Source: http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary)
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