For Immediate Release

May 30, 2014

Memorial Day Fires Part 6:
A matter of when, not if it burns
The days and weeks around the Memorial Day Holiday traditionally produce some of the larger
and more difficult wildfires for the Florida Forest Services Blackwater District. This is the sixth part
in a six-part series looking back at some of the more memorable fire events that have occurred
around the holiday in the past few years.
MAIN DRIVE FIRE, June 2, 2011: Just as there are problem areas within the Blackwater District as
far as fire occurrence and fire behavior are concerned, there also are areas where youre not as likely
to see fire. Crestview is one such place.
Just because an area has less problem fires than other areas doesnt mean it is exempt from them.
The Main Drive Fire is proof that central Okaloosa County can and will burn.
Okaloosa saw 17 wildfires from March to June of 2011 a relatively average run for that time of
year. What made 2011 different was more the location of the fires.
We had this fire and the Fairchild Fire at the airport, said Gary Holley, Forest Area Supervisor over
Okaloosa County. As far as anybody can remember those were the two biggest fires (not on Eglin Air
Force Base) weve had here.
The Fairchild Fire came just two months prior and at 280 acres, was the largest fire in memory for
Crestview. It centered around the Crestview airport having begun on the west side of the complex.
High winds that day fanned the flames and drove embers and ash over the runway and sparked fires to
the south and east almost a mile away.

CONTI NUED



Joe Zwierzchowski
Information Officer/Wildfire Mitigation Specialist
Florida Forest Service Blackwater Forestry Center
E-mail: Joe.Zwierzchowski@freshfromflorida.com
Cellular: 850-206-2675
Office: 850-957-6140 ext 127






With that recent blaze in mind and knowing the fire potential for the area, crews responded in pairs
two tractors were dispatched just minutes after the call came in.
We actually had people prestaged in Crestview,
Holley said. We were still monitoring the area pretty
heavily.
Despite keeping a watchful eye on the area, this fire
went undetected for a few days before showing itself.
The cause remains listed as unknown but Holley believes
kids or people riding ATVs in the area sparked the blaze.
Thick fog in the mornings hid the smoke and kept fire
activity to a minimum and it wasnt until an estimated
three days after ignition the Forest Service was called in.
Most of the acres in this fire came before we were
notified, it had a pretty good head start on us, Holley
said.
Locating the fire turned out to be another problem.
With minimal smoke showing and fire activity low,
firefighters had to navigate a maze of four wheeler trails
and footpaths just to locate the active portion of the fire.
Once located, crews had the fire contained in a matter of
hours but continued to monitor it for several days.
MEMORABLE FIRES AROUND MEMORIAL DAY RELEASE DATE,
FIRE NAME, DATE OF FIRE
May 20: Elvis Road Fire, May 21, 2012 Santa Rosa County 55 acres
May 23: Giese Lane Fire May 25, 2013 Escambia County 201 acres
May 26: Indian Bayou Fire, May 27, 2010 Santa Rosa County 279 acres
May 28: North Santa Rosa Fires May 29, 2013 Santa Rosa County 9 separate fires in one
general area for 263.5 acres
May 28: Avalon Hangar Fire May 29, 2013 Santa Rosa County 155 acres
May 30: Main Drive June 2, 2011 Okaloosa County 95 acres

Main Drive Fire
WHEN: June 2, 2011
WHERE: Main Drive (north of
Crestview Airport),
Okaloosa County
DURATION: 11 days
SIZE: 95 acres
CAUSE: Unknown.
EQUIPMENT REQUIRED:
5 tractor/plow units
1 brush truck
4 overhead personnel
LESSON LEARNED: Every bit
of Florida is susceptible to
wildfire. It pays to be
prepared. Visit firewise.org to
learn how to protect your
home from wildfire because
its a matter of when, not if
one happens.








END