LIGHTING SPARKS 960 ACRE FIRE IN CARLTON RESERVE

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSThe fuels were just right for erratic fire behavior

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSFire unit providing structure protection for one of the many well houses.

Photo by FFSFlorida Forestry fly’s a inferred flight.

Photo by CIRONE PHOTOSFirefighters draging fire in the green islands.

Photo by SCSDView from Satasota Sheriffs Air 1 chopper.

Photo by FFS
Heavy lightning rolled through Manatee and Sarasota County. A smoke column was spotted in the park on Saturday afternoon. Units from Sarasota Fire, Venice Fire, Florida Forestry and Sarasota Burn Mitigation Team started the suppression of the fire. The vegetation not only drought striction but also frost killed. The fire kept jumping the plow lines made my Forestry and units had to drop back to the existing plow lines used for prescribed fire. The next day units returned, the fire received ¾ inches of rain overnight. A decision was made to burn off the existing plow lines, which was a more controlled tactic. A few thunderstorms skirted the fire but didn’t impact the fire. Units mopped up the following two days Florida Forestry came in with a strike team of Engines to assist