Glades County Fires Suppressed Saturday

PALMDALE, FL. -- Glades County and State Firefighters suppressed two large wildfires burning approximately 294-acres in Glades county Saturday. Downed hurricane vegetation, lower relativity humidity, and shifting high winds created high intensity fire behavior with trees torching, long-range spotting and fire burning across water. 

Glades County Fire Department was essential in suppressing fire-brands; dead leaf litter on fire that was carried by the wind up to ¼ mile ahead of the main fire.  

The Florida Forest Service utilized a firefighting bulldozer with plow to encircle the wildfire and create a containment line. The bulldozer’s plow removed vegetation (fuel) and left a strip of bare soil that stop the spread of the wildfire.

Northwest of LaBelle – 94-acre Gallberry Wildfire

County:          Glades – South of Loblolly Bay Road and West of Kirby Thompson Road

Reported:       04/28/2018 14:56

Contained:     100% at 04/28/2018 16:19

Fire Cause:     Under Investigation

Evacuations/Road Closures/Threats/Injuries:  None

Ortona – 200-acre Ortona Eucalyptus Wildfire

County:          Glades  -West of US 27 and Wayman Road

Reported:      04/28/2018 16:38

Contained:    100% at 04/28/2018 19:35

Fire Cause:     Under Investigation

Evacuations/Road Closures/Threats/Injuries:  None

Agencies on Scene:

Glades County Fire Department and Florida Forest Service

The recent hurricane has increased the complexity and intensity of wildfires due to widespread destruction of vegetation in our area, caused by down trees, snapped trunks and limbs, and stripped away leaves. Residents can help firefighters by preventing any future wildfires and creating a 30-foot area around their house cleared of dead vegetation. Large landowners can bush-hog or roller chop to help reduce the copious amounts of fuels.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests, provides management assistance on more than 17 millionacres of private and community forests, while protecting homes, forestland, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

For questions about burn authorizations and wildfire prevention, please contact your local Florida Forest Service:

Martin County (772) 221-4045;    Saint Lucie County (772) 468-3915;  Indian River County (772) 778-5085;

Glades County (863) 674-4000;    Highlands County  (863) 655-6407;   Okeechobee County (863) 467-3221