Escambia Hurst Hammock fire in Beulah still 80% contained

Jan 11, 2024

After a more than two-day long battle with an out-of-control brush fire, the Florida Forestry Service still can't officially say the Hurst Hammock brush fire is contained.

What started off as a 2-acre brush fire off Hurst Hammock Road near Beulah Road Wednesday ballooned into an 86-acre burn area by Friday afternoon.

Now, Escambia County Forester Cathy Hardin says that even though the fire is no longer burning, it cannot be officially labeled as contained due to the dryness of the area's vegetation.

Hurst Hammock fire nearly 90 acres:Hurst Hammock fire: brush fire now at 86 acres

"Until we get some rain, there's a chance where some of the stuff can rekindle," Hardin told the News Journal. "We’re continuing to monitor it until we feel it is completely safe."

Hardin said the Forest Service still has the fire labeled 80% contained since there has been no rain.

On Wednesday, Escambia County Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire at the 5900 block of Hurst Hammock Road in Beulah. ECFR units arrived at a brush fire of approximately 2 acres in size and quickly expanded with winds blowing from the northwest.

Fire begins:Firefighters containing Hurst Hammock Road brush fire

The fire began to intensify shortly after ECFR's arrival, requiring crews to retreat from the immediate area, according to a county news release. As the fire expanded, the Florida Forest Service was requested along with additional ECFR units. Crews re-engaged and began extinguishing the fire until the arrival of the FFS. As FFS began plowing fire lines, ECFR crews set up in several locations to provide structural protection.

Several ECFR units remained on scene until the FFS utilized their heavy dozers to widen established fire lines. The FFS fixed-wing aircraft was also on-scene to assist in monitoring the fire's location, direction of travel and ensuring the fire remained contained within the fire lines. Escambia County Emergency Management was also on-scene assisting with a drone.

A 2020 wild fire in the same area caused 29 evacuations and spread to about 1,200 acres at its peak.