Eagle’s Nest 100% Contained

I-10 Eagle’s Nest Fire 100% contained

Milton, FL – Officials with Florida Forest Service’s Blackwater Forestry Center have declared the I-10 Eagle’s Nest Fire 100% contained as of Thursday afternoon. Crews were on hand again today tending to the few remaining embers and hot spots within the blaze and were able to reassess the fire’s size.

 Responding crews estimated the fire at15 acres on arrival and worked to cut it off. Wet, boggy soil and salt marshes prevented much progress for the tractor/plow units on scene and tactics quickly changed as the fire grew. Original rough estimates had the fire at 32 acres. Updated figures calculated through GPS mapping show it at 98 acres.

A burn out operation was started to eliminate unburned fuel ahead of the fire’s path and worked well as FFS wildland firefighters acted quickly cut the fire off before it reached Interstate 10.

Before the burn out began, winds blew hot embers and fire brands form the original fire over I-10 and Mulat Bayou to the north and ignited a 10-acre spot fire on an island. The island fire was contained with help from a fire boat from Avalon Fire Department, the FWC and Northwest Florida Water Management District.

Total for the two fires is 108 acres.   Crews will return tomorrow but night operations have been suspended.

For more information, contact Joe Zwierzchowski with the Florida Forest Service at (850) 957-6140 ext. 127 or (850) 206-2675.