BAKER COUNTY, Fla. — People who evacuated their homes due to a more than 100-acre wildfire in Baker County will be able to return at 7 p.m.
The Baker County Sheriff’s Office posted on social media that those residents coming back home should “beware of any heavy duty equipment and vehicles still in the area and any hot spots that may still be in the area.”
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Baker County Fire Rescue said in a social post earlier Wednesday afternoon that “the areas of Noah Davis and Butcher Road are under mandatory evacuation.”
Along with BCFR, the agencies that responded to the fire to protect the homes in the fire’s path included Macclenny Fire Department, Florida Forestry Service, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
The Florida Highway Patrol said it is suspected that due to the northerly winds at the time, an ember from the smaller fire (approximately 1.5 acres) along Interstate 10 ignited a larger secondary fire (100+ acres) around U.S. 90 and Cowpen Road. FHP said smoke signs have been placed along I-10 and U.S. 90 to warn motorists.
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The First Alert Weather Team said the smoke plume was visible Wednesday afternoon on radar. First Alert Meteorologist Trevor Gibbs said the fire brought locally reduced air quality around Glen St. Mary and Macclenny with gusty southwesterly winds pushing the smoke to the northeast.
FHP is asking motorists to reduce speed and use low-beam headlights when traveling in these areas, as visibility may deteriorate quickly due to smoke/fog type conditions, especially at night and in the early morning.
PHOTOS: Baker County wildfire affects 100 acres
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