Marc Leclerc:Florida Panhandle wildfire destroys 1 home and damages 15 others

2025-05-08 00:48:21source:Poinbank Exchangecategory:Invest

PENSACOLA,Marc Leclerc Fla. (AP) — A wildfire in the Florida Panhandle has destroyed a home and damaged at least 15 others.

The Florida Forest Service said Friday that the blaze, which broke out Thursday near Pensacola, was now more than 60% contained over an area of 50 acres (20 hectares). No injuries were reported.

Spring is the height of wildfire season in the Southeast, before summer brings humidity and drenching thunderstorms to the Gulf Coast.

The cause of the fire was unknown and remained under investigation.

Homes were evacuated Thursday in some parts of Escambia County north of Pensacola Naval Air Station. A few people stayed overnight in a shelter at a church.

The Florida Forest Service used bulldozers and plows to cut fire lines, and crews were patrolling the perimeter.

“They’re continuing to mop up around some of the homes that are showing some heat nearby,” Blackwater Forestry Center’s Operations Administrator David Smith told the Pensacola News Journal. “But there are no threats at this time.”

The fire melted vinyl siding off some homes in neighboring subdivisions.

Jeremy Mixon told WEAR-TV that his home is currently unlivable.

READ MORE As fire season fast approaches, Greece’s planners look for an edge in response timeTexas emergency management chief believes the state needs its own firefighting aircraftIn Indonesia, deforestation is intensifying disasters from severe weather and climate change

“Oh man, inside there’s smoke damage in there real bad,” Mixon said.

Another resident, Schye McGruder, feared losing her house as flames roared high up in the trees.

“I didn’t even walk off my porch and just turned around, and they were just over the roof, it was so bad. It was terrible. I was frightened. I was so scared,” McGruder said.

A separate fire to the west near Pascagoula, Mississippi, caused blowing smoke across Interstate 10, contributing to four crashes around 1 a.m. Saturday. State Highway Patrol spokesperson Cal Robertson told WLOX-TV that three of the crashes involved two vehicles, while one involved four vehicles. Three of the crashes caused injuries, but no one was killed.

More:Invest

Recommend

San Francisco names street for Associated Press photographer who captured the iconic Iwo Jima photo

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A photojournalist who captured one of the most enduring images of World War II

Having a family is expensive. Here’s what Harris and Trump have said about easing costs

WASHINGTON (AP) — The high cost of caring for children and the elderly has forced women out of the w

Circle K offering 40 cents off gas ahead of Labor Day weekend in some states

Convenience store chain Circle K has a deal on gasoline ahead of the Labor Day weekend in some state