More than 600 homes have been evacuated as a fast-moving wildfire in Bay County on the panhandle of Florida prompted authorities to issue a state of emergency.
The Adkins Avenue fire has burned more than 1,400 acres (1.6 square miles) and is 20% contained, the Florida Forest Service said. The fire started Friday when someone was burning trash in their backyard and the flames got out of hand, Bay County Sheriff Tom Ford said at a news conference.
At least two homes have been destroyed and as many as 12 were damaged, Emergency Services Chief Brad Monroe estimated. There have been no reported injuries or fatalities, he said. Bay County Commissioner Robert Carroll said there is now a burn ban for the county. “Please, no burning. We’ve got to get this fire under control,” he said.
By Saturday afternoon, 24 hours after the Adkins Avenue fire began near Panama City, Fla., it had burned more than 1,400 acres and was 30 percent contained, the Florida Forest Service said on Twitter.
More evacuation orders have been put in place since Friday. In a statement on Saturday morning, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook that residents of the neighboring Bylsma Manor Estates needed to “gather your personal items and leave.” The fire was caused by someone burning debris in a backyard, Valerie Sale, a spokeswoman for Bay County, said on Saturday.
