After an unusual spring filled with bizarre weather and tornadoes, the Panhandle is now facing wildfires. Officials in the area reported that on Thursday, wildfires forced hundreds to evacuate the area as buildings burned. The counties between Pensacola and Panama City Beach were the center of the blazes. Walton and Santa Rosa counties have been dealing with the blazes since Monday.
According to Florida Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried, no less than 17 buildings have been torched by the fire. These include both homes and businesses. The fires are compounding matters in a region that is already being squeezed by the economic realities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Needless to say, the last thing the people in this region need is their homeowners insurance rates shooting up due to nearby fires.
Lockdown efforts are still in effect in Florida. This has made evacuations an unusual prospect. Despite stay at home orders, officials in Florida have warned Panhandle residents to be ready to leave their homes at a moment’s notice. The blaze, which is burning on either side of Interstate 10, has thrown a serious wrinkle into the state’s lockdown effort.
On Wednesday, officials had to close down parts of I-10. The closure was due, at least in part, to heavy smoke from the fire. The smoke was so thick, in fact, that drivers were finding it difficult to see the road in front of them. This, in turn, led to traffic accidents and stopped traffic on the interstate.
On Thursday, Santa Rosa County Public Safety Director Brad Baker told reporters that the fire is forty percent contained. However, residents in the Panhandle are urged to keep an eye on the local news. Evacuation orders could come down at any time, as the flames can be very difficult to predict.
The Panhandle region is experiencing the effects of the pandemic slowing the economy. Normally, spring would bring numerous tourists to the beaches in the region to party and vacation. However, thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, those plans have been canceled indefinitely.
This has led to local businesses in the region struggling to make ends meet. Compounding this with the threat of flames that could burn down businesses and homes has made people in the region understandably nervous.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis visited Santa Rosa county on Thursday and was briefed on the situation by local officials. The governor has promised that he’ll try to get the area FEMA aid for the blazes.
