FRANKLIN COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - It's been a busy morning for firefighters as a wildfire roars through Franklin County destroying homes and acreage.
The fire is now 95 percent contained.
Law enforcement is allowing the residents of the neighborhoods that were blocked off to go back into their homes.
But not to stay, only to retrieve important items like medicine and assess damages to their home after the wildfire. Then after they have to come right back out because law enforcement is still investigating.
"Probably one of the most intense fires I've ever seen in my career with how quickly it moved and how quickly it destroyed homes," said Franklin County Sheriff A.J. Smith. "People were actually fleeing out the door with the clothes on their back.
In less than a day, the fire spread across about 950 acres, destroying at least 36 homes in its path while damaging four others.
"I was sitting there thinking, oh my God, the world's coming to an end," said Christy Russell, who was displaced by fire.
Luckily for Russell, her home was spared, but just a few doors down, homes burned to the ground.
"Honestly I'm blessed to have my place still and have somewhere to go home to, but I do feel bad for all of the people that lost their homes," said Russell.
That's where the state of Florida comes in.
Florida Governor Rick Scott made the trip to Eastpoint to meet with the Sheriff and start working on relief efforts for those impacted.
"We're going to figure out today what we can do to be helpful to each of these families," said Gov. Scott. "I've been talking to our state director to see what we can do but let's pray for all of these families."
Despite the tragedy that many are facing in Franklin County, spirits are still high. The community has definitely come together to help out each other.
