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BUCKHEAD RIDGE – Smoke billows into the sky as thousands of acres of dry vegetation are consumed by fire.
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BUCKHEAD RIDGE – Smoke billowed into the sky as thousands of acres of dry vegetation around Lake Okeechobee were consumed by fire.
While officials have not yet released information about the cause of the fire, that has not stopped rumors from spreading … like wildfire. Allegations circulating on social media that the blaze started with a boat fire, that it was arson, that it was a controlled burn that somehow got out of control – are just rumors.
The cause of the fire is undetermined and remains under investigation by Florida Forest Service, Okeechobee County Fire Chief and Public Safety Officer Earl Wooten explained in a video released Friday afternoon.
He said Okeechobee County Fire Rescue is partnering with other state and local agencies to monitor the fire and protect the public.
On Friday, Florida Forest Service fought fire with fire by conducting controlled burns within the lakebed, which remained inaccessible to ground crews and firefighting equipment. This contained the blaze.
Backburning is a firefighting technique in which fires are deliberately set along a man-made or natural firebreak in front of an active fire front. Once the available fuel is burned by the intentionally set fires, the wildfire is no longer able to spread.
Burn bans remain in effect for much of Florida, including Okeechobee, Glades and Hendry Counties. “Please do not burn anything outdoors,” said Wooten. Campfires, burn barrels, bonfires, fireworks and burning of yard waste are all prohibited.
On Friday, Feb. 13, winds kept the smoke away from the populated area of Buckhead Ridge.
Florida's natural ecology is a fire-dependent ecosystem. Historical accounts document wildfires that burned for days and weeks.
According to one local legend, Buckhead Ridge was named for a wildfire that burned for many days, causing two plumes of smoke that resembled the antlers of a deer. That 'buckhead fire" on the ridge reportedly caused some to start referring to the area as the "buckhead ridge."
Wildfires pose a special risk this year, as the "dry" season has been drier than normal, with only about 35% of regular rainfall so far. In addition, below freezing temperatures in the lake in January killed most of the vegetation.
Residents and visitors are asked to be vigilant about any sources of fire. Do not throw cigarettes or ash out of car windows. Do not park hot vehicles -- cars, trucks or ATVs -- in dry grass. Be careful with airboats in areas with dry grass.
As of Monday, Feb. 16, the cause of the First Point Wildfire was still under investigation. The case was turned over to the law enforcement department of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
