TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Florida Department of Agriculture Commissioner Adam H. Putnam says a prescribed burn by state contractors caused the Franklin County wildfire.
Earlier Wednesday state officials announced the suspension of its prescribed fire program statewide while investigating the fire, now called the Limerock Wildfire.
The Limerock Wildfire destroyed a significant amount of property in Franklin County late on Sunday. The fire in the coastal community of Eastpoint burned more than 800 acres and destroyed 36 homes.
“My heart goes out to those affected by this devastating wildfire, and I thank all of our partners in the response effort to stop the spread of the fire,” Putnam said.
During the investigation, other possible causes, such as lightning, arson and fire accidentally caused by man, were eliminated, according to a news release from Putnam.
On Monday, June 18, 2018, seven days before the Limerock Wildfire, a private company contracted by FWC, Wildland Fire Services, conducted a 480-acre prescribed fire in the Apalachicola River Wildlife and Environmental Area.
This prescribed fire was separated from the Eastpoint neighborhood by 580 acres of private land, an FWC news release said Wednesday.
Before Putnam's statement, earlier Wednesday, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services had issued a news release saying the FWC Inspector General is investigating that all protocols and operations of FWC’s prescribed fire program were followed.
"Due to the proximity of last week’s prescribed fire to the Limerock Wildfire that caused severe damage, we have launched an investigation and will completely review all policies and procedures with prescribed fires," said Eric Sutton, executive director of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Florida uses prescribed fire as a tool to improve and maintain habitats that wildlife need to survive, according to a page on the FWC page site. Benefits cited by an FWC brochure were under several subheads: Habitats are enhanced; threatened species benefit; and prescribed fire rejuvenates the land.
An often-cited benefit of prescribed burns is they reduce the risks of wildfires while being safe and carefully managed.
FWC said annually both FWC staff and contracted certified experts burn more than 100,000 acres on public lands.
