Eglin Air Force Base Fire Expected to Burn for Days

EGLIN AFB, Fla. -- Officials with the base's Wildland Fire Program predict several days to weeks of smoky conditions as a wildfire continues to burn in a remote, swampy area of the reservation.

However, residents appeared to get a break Wednesday night. Local fire departments, which were flooded with calls about heavy smoke and ashes Tuesday night, reported no problems as of 8 p.m. Wednesday.

The wildfire is believed to have reignited from a controlled burn May 15 northwest of Hurlburt Field. Weather conditions were ideal at the time for a controlled burn, said James Furman, manager of Eglin Air Force Base's Wildland Fire Program.

Officials noticed the fire smoldering last Thursday. It was estimated at 500 acres Tuesday. By Wednesday morning it had grown to more than 1,500 acres, Furman said.

"This took off on us," Eglin Fire Chief Mark Giuliano said at a news conference Wednesday morning at the Northwest Florida State College campus in Fort Walton Beach. "We are continuing to monitor the situation. We're worried about the urban interface, so we have men on standby indefinitely."

He said military planes have been prohibited from flying over the area because of safety concerns.

"Weather's a really critical factor with this," Furman said. "Everything that will happen is dependent on the weather. Our biggest concern is the pop-up thunderstorms, which can produce very strong winds. We're keeping a close eye on the weather, but that is the wildcard."

A big rain will be the best way to put out the fire. There is no significant rain in current forecasts.

"It's pretty grim as far as the forecast is concerned," Furman said. "We are in a dry period. Our afternoon thunderstorms don't kick in until late June."

Mike Spaits, an environmental spokesman for Eglin, said firefighting efforts Tuesday night put out about 200 acres on the east side of the blaze.

"We're fairly confident that the lines will hold fairly strong against the northwesterly winds we have," he said. "We are also potentially doing a burnout operation on the south side of the fire."

The Urban/Wildland Interface Task Force met Wednesday at NWF State to prepare for any fires that could endanger urban areas.

Giuliano said evacuation centers have been pre-established, contingency plans have been set up and task forces are in place should populated areas be threatened.

Officials anticipate smoke settling during the night, which could cause hazardous road conditions.

Dr. Karen Chapman, director of the Okaloosa County Health Department, advised residents to stay indoors with the air conditioning on.

"This type of smoke is made up mostly of gases and particles from the burning plant material," Chapman said. "It is a respiratory irritant, an eye irritant, and it will affect the nasal passages."

Choctawhatchee and Fort Walton Beach high schools have outdoor graduations set for Thursday night and Friday night, respectively. The ceremonies were on as scheduled as of Wednesday afternoon.

"We are going to be right down to the wire," said Superintendent of Schools Alexis Tibbetts. "It's all wind-dependent."

Ted Corcoran, president and CEO of with the Greater Fort Walton Beach Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday afternoon there were no plans to cancel activities for the Billy Bowlegs Pirate Festival. The Torchlight Parade is scheduled for 7 p.m. today.

"This is something we'll have to monitor," Corcoran said. "It is somewhat ironic that this year's theme is 'Slash and Burn.' "

The fire likely will stay on Eglin land if southwesterly winds continue to push it to the northeast to an area that already has been burned, Furman said. That should help stifle the blaze.

McClatchy-Tribune News Service