June 25, 1998--10 p.m.
David F. Byron
Community Information DirectorFIRE FORCE DIGS IN TO PROTECT PLANTATION PINES
Although the massive Lafayette fire in the center of county has proven plenty stubborn, a force of firefighters and field support personnel proved even more determined as they worked throughout the day to carve a six-mile protective ring around the threatened Plantation Pines subdivision, south of S.R. 40, west of Ormond Beach.
Meanwhile, Lt. Wayne Petrovich of the State Fire Marshal’s Office said Thursday night his agency and the Division of Forestry had arrested a 16 year old white male and charged him with two counts of wilful, malicious or intentional burning of land, a third degree felony. The youth confessed during questioning.
The fires were not big fires and were put out quickly, but Petrovich said the potential was there for something serious.
"This is not the same investigation we were working yesterday," Petrovich said. "This fire occurred after we left." The juvenile is suspected of setting two fires in Daytona Park Estates, one Thursday and one Wednesday. He said fire authorities are working another case in the same subdivision.
By early evening, County fire officials rescinded a mandatory evacuation order for residents who live within the subdivision, where fire came within a third of a mile, according to Deputy Fire Chief Steve Plummer, the incident commander.
"Overall, I’d say we had a good day," said County Fire Services Director Jim Tauber. "We continue to win the battle. If this was a football game, I’d say we’re approaching halftime.
At 9 p.m., Tauber announced the fires pretty much had "stabilized."
Tauber said firefighting efforts Friday would concentrate on building a fire line west of the Hunter’s Ridge subdivision, which is east of the Plantation Pines area on the north side of S.R. 40. A concern is to prevent a merge from a fire encroaching south from Flagler County.
The Guava Road fire, west of Port Orange, and the fires in the S.R. 415/S.R. 44 were contained, although smoke was causing problems for horses and other animals. A horse in the Ormond Beach area perished Thursday from smoke inhalation. The fires along the roadside of U.S. 92 had burned out and a strong flank west of the Lafayette fire, which threatened an area east of DeLand north to S.R. 40, was holding. Thick smoke was a problem in the North Peninsula area.
There were no new injuries. The number of people in shelters at 9 p.m. was 10. Shelters open were the DeLand YMCA, Ormond Beach Middle School and the DeLand fairgrounds. The Calvary Baptist Church in Ormond Beach was closed as a shelter. There were 71 animals at the DeLand fairgrounds, which is a shelter for people and their pets.
Volusia’s fires also prompted official visits. State Insurance Commissioner Bill Nelson toured fire areas and visited the Emergency Operations Center on Indian Lake Road. Governor Lawton Chiles announced he would fly over the area Friday morning. Lt. Governor Buddy McKay was scheduled to visit Sunday as were Florida Senators Bob Graham and Connie Mack.
Tauber emphasized that fire crews remain focused on a simple goal: prevent public injury and save structures. From that standpoint, the effort has been 100 percent successful.
Fire officials said achieving the goal is not so simple. In fact, the plan of attack to save the 197 Plantation Pines subdivision homes involved 30 bulldozers working throughout the day to plow a 50 foot wide clean fire break around the residential area. The effort was supported from the air by water and retardant drops. But the plan to drop ping pong sized balls which would ignite on impact and then burn outward to consume the fuel of the encroaching fire was not carried out due to unfavorable weather conditions. It was undetermined at 9 p.m. whether the air drop would be carried out Friday, flying conditions being a determining factor.
The number of firefighters on the scene Thursday was 688.
Weary staff at the Emergency Operations Center expressed outrage at erroneous television news reports of firefighters being kicked out of hotel rooms with no place to go, due to stock car fans arriving. "We’ve worked our tails off to make arrangements to house and feed all firefighters and support personnel," said one EOC staffer. "And Stetson University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical aren’t getting the credit they deserve for putting up fire crews in their dorms and feeding them at no expense to the County."
Salvation Army also reported that well-intended citizens are hampering fire line feeding efforts by bringing food to fire scenes. Citizens were asked to donate liquids only and bring them to the Salvation Army facility on Ballough Road in Daytona Beach.
The news media, which includes newspapers and radio and television networks from throughout the country and overseas, camped out at the Plantation Pines command post on S.R. 40. Reporters watched and waited for the air drops which never came. They, too, proved stubborn digging for stories.
One reporter from a Miami area newspaper added her perspective on the media attention to the fires. "I guess this is a pretty big media show in Volusia County. A bigger scene than this happens about every day somewhere in South Florida."
Rainfall did come in some areas Thursday, but it was accompanied by lightning which ignited some new fires. County officials now estimate that nearly 60,000 acres in Volusia County have been consumed by fires; 70,000 acres would be about 10 percent of the county.
The Volusia County Council Thursday morning was updated on the fire status--the map showing much of the middle of the County the subject of fire. County Council members sat quietly, almost speechless as fire officials presented the details.
Despite the call for a mandatory evacuation directive issued early Thursday morning by County Fire Services, a small number of Plantation Pines residents refused to leave, Plummer said. Sheriff’s deputies went door to door to inform Plantation Pines residents it was not safe to be in their homes. When some refused, deputies wrote a field report which included next of kin.
"We can’t stress enough how important it is for the public to stay informed and comply with official directives," said County Emergency Management Director Jim Ryan.
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