5-acre incident near Grand Park community in East County requires assistance of Sheriff’s Office and Forest Service helicopters to drop water
As Sarasota County’s Emergency Services staff is continuing to remind the public about the dangerous drought conditions in the county — as well as the burn ban that has been in effect since April 19 — Fire Department personnel have been called to numerous brush fires in recent days, The Sarasota News Leader has learned.
This week, in advance of the July Fourth festivities, the Fire Department issued a press release, stressing that fireworks and other, traditional holiday pyrotechnical materials, such as sparklers, are prohibited by the burn ban unless they are part of an official activity that has been allowed by permit. (See the related article in this issue.)
In response to a News Leader request, the county’s Emergency Services staff reported in a July 1 email that of the 10 brush fires and incidents that occurred from June 27 through June 29, the largest was a 960-acre event referred to as the Carlton East Fire; that was reported on June 27. Its location was cited as 1255 N. Mabry Carlton Parkway in Venice. Formally, that is the address of Sarasota County’s Carlton Water Treatment Facility.
Sarasota County Emergency Services information indicated that the fire occurred on the T. Mabry Carlton Jr. Memorial Reserve, whose address is 1800 Mabry Carlton Parkway in Venice.
In that situation, the email explained, county firefighters assisted the Florida Forest Service (FFS).
Additionally, the email noted a 5-acre brush fire in the area of the Grand Park community being developed by Neal Communities east of Interstate 75 and south of Clark Road. That was reported on June 27.
On the Emergency Services Facebook page on June 27, staff wrote, “Sarasota County Fire Department [SCFD] and Florida Forestry Service crews working a wildfire along FPL [Florida Power & Light Co.] lines and I-75 near mile marker 204, Grand Park subdivision. Water drops taking place to potentially protect structures. Visible smoke along [I-75] and surrounding communities. Working to contain. Updates to come.”
Later on June 27, two updates on that fire were posted on the Facebook page. The first said, “Fire 25% contained. Crews working quickly. No immediate threat to nearby homes at this time.”
The later report, posted at 5:42 p.m., noted, “Fire mostly contained. Storms rolling in. Monitoring to continue. Expect smoke in the area throughout the night and into Sunday.”
In a video accompanying the second update, Assistant Fire Chief Curvin Wolfgang explained with emphasis in discussing the affected vegetative area, “This is old growth. It sits in between a major interstate and development, so it hasn’t burned maybe in decades.”
Moreover, he noted that the terrain features “a lot of swales” and a lot of areas that forestry personnel are unable to reach easily.
Wolfgang also talked about the fact that that fire had broken out in a part of the county characterized as “urban interface,” adding, “This is where the development meets the wildland, and when this catches fire, our major goal — really, our only goal — is to contain this fire within the wildland and keep it from entering … residential neighborhoods.”
A Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office report related to that incident says that a deputy was driving northbound on Interstate 75 at 1:31 p.m. on June 27 when the deputy spotted a possible brush fire in the area of Lake Woodruff Court/Crystal Isles Circle.
The deputy requested the agency helicopter Air 1 for reconnaissance, the report notes.
The report further indicates that Sheriff’s Office personnel began assessing the best strategies for Emergency Services and Florida Forest Service personnel to access the affected areas.
Later, a request was made for Air 1 to drop water on the fire. A subsequent note in that report indicates that Air 2 was dispatched to the scene. The report also says that Fire Department personnel had begun a “hand line operation,” and they were using water from fire engines to suppress the flames.
Just as the fire seemed to be under control, the report indicates, a flare-up occurred in one area as a result of a shift in wind. The site of that flare-up, the report adds, was “not easily accessible.”
The pilot of Air 2 also had difficulty seeing through smoke, the report says.
Finally, Air 2 was able to locate the flare-up, it adds.
Ultimately, the report points out, two helicopters were getting water from a retention pond to try to douse the fires; the second one was brought to the scene by the Forest Service.
The Fire Department did deploy a drone, as well, the report says.
At one point, the report continues, a battalion chief requested that the engine from Fire Station 11 head to the intersection of Big Bayou Drive and Dry Tortugas Drive to protect structures if the fire spread.
The report describes the creation of fire lines, too, in an effort to keep the fire from spreading.
At another point, the report says, a battalion chief alerted the Florida Highway Patrol to “possible smoke conditions on I-75.”
Air 2 continued to hit hot spots, the report notes, while the crews were awaiting the return of the Forest Service helicopter. The report does note that the total “bucket count” for Air 2 was 52, before it returned to the Venice airport. Later, the report put the bucket count for the Forest Service helicopter at approximately 40.
Other incidents from June 26 through June 29
On Friday, June 26, Emergency Services staff said in the July 1 email, a brush fire also was reported on State Road 72 at Myakka State Park. Fire Department units were alerted to respond, the email pointed out, but those alerts were canceled by the Florida Forest Service.
Additionally on June 27, the Emergency Services email pointed to a 3-acre brush fire on Everglow Drive in North Port, adding, “SCFD units engaged in minimal fire operations.”
The following were other events on June 27:
- 803 Old Albee Farm Road in Nokomis — Illegal burn in the backyard of a residence.
- 2551 Knights Trail Road in Nokomis — 10-foot by 10-foot brush fire caused by a lightning strike. Extinguished by SCFD units.
- Fruitville Road —Tree on fire from a lightning strike. Extinguished by SCFD units.
- 9261 McDaniel Lane in Sarasota — Palm tree with burn marks, but no active fire. That address is in the Founders Club, which is located south of Fruitville Road and east of I-75.
- 2026 Kingsdown Drive in Sarasota — Brush fire caused by a lightning strike; out upon arrival. That residence is south of Fruitville Road and east of Oakford Road in the eastern part of the county, a map notes.
Sunday, June 28, and Monday, June 29
In its email response to the News Leader, Emergency Services staff reported the following incidents on June 28:
- 8000 S. Tamiami Trail in Venice, location of State College of Florida (STC) campus — SCFD units assisted the Florida Forest Service “with brush fire mop-up.”
- 1020 25th St. in Sarasota — Illegal burn in the backyard of a residence.
- 7500 Island Cove Terrace in Sarasota — Dumpster fire.
- 8000 S. Tamiami Trail (STC Campus) —“SCFD units returned to the scene for flare-up from previous brush fire.”
On June 29, on the Emergency Services Facebook page, staff reported that Sarasota County Fire Department personnel and the Florida Forest Service – Myakka River District responded to another brush fire that day. It was “inland near Sarasota National Cemetery,” and it was estimated to cover 5 acres.
The cemetery stands at 9810 State Road 72 in Sarasota.
That incident, the report continued, was caused by downed power lines. No injuries or transports of people to medical facilities were reported, it added, noting, as well, “There are no threats to the cemetery or any structures.”
The post also said, “As of around 1:45 p.m. the fire was around 90% contained.”