Danger from fire ever present

The State Division of Forestry and firefighters with the St. Johns County Fire Department reported to Historic City News that they have a woods fire in the area of Lightsey Road under control at this hour.

This information was received on the heels of an emergency meeting of the County Commission today; declaring a state of emergency and reinstitution of a countywide “burn ban”.

Historic City News reporters were on the scene near the high voltage transfer station south of SR-207, along an FPL power-line road, where emergency management personnel began battling the wildfire soon after lunch today.

The Sheriff’s helicopter was in the air, as was a fire rescue helicopter, and the mobile command center arrived just before 5:00 p.m. to assist with command and control of the situation had the fire worsened.

Lieutenant Dale Bryant advised reporters on the scene that there was some concern that the high-voltage transformers might explode as the flames closed in on the epicenter of the fire.

Heavy smoke billowed overhead and was visible from many parts of town. Traffic was diverted at Old Kings Road, Rolling Hills Road, Holmes Boulevard, Lightsey Road, Wildwood Road and feeder roads to the area along SR-207; westbound traffic was backed up to SR-312 and eastbound traffic coming from I-95 was backed up nearly to Otis Mason School.

St. Johns County Sheriff’s spokesman Kevin Kelshaw told Historic City News that, at this time, there are no structures in danger and deputies have reopened vehicular traffic on SR-207.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer