Thousands of people have been forced to flee their homes in Florida due to raging wildfires. The fires are centered in Panama City, which is roughly a two-hour drive from Tallahassee, the state capital.
Panama City may be better known for Spring Break celebrations, but vast sections of the city are currently on fire, and over 1,000 residents have been evacuated as a precaution.
The fire has spread to almost 9,000 acres, and firefighters are battling it alongside a second, 800-acre fire near another part of Panama City.
Hundreds of homes have been destroyed by fire, and a new huge fire has erupted, forcing over 120 nursing home residents to run for their lives.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis replied to the fires by saying that the tragedy is growing swiftly and that it will be vigorously addressed.
Residents are being evacuated by city buses, and the fire is now approaching a prison in Bay County, which may have to be evacuated as well if the fire continues to grow.
This is an area that has previously experienced Mother Nature’s wrath, having been devastated by Hurricane Michael in 2018, which killed 16 people and destroyed $25 billion in homes and infrastructure in the area.
Fires are spreading throughout Florida, not just in the Panama City area, due to high winds. With over 150 flames burning across the Sunshine State, they are wreaking havoc. This includes 12,000 acres of fires, and we’re only getting started with Florida’s yearly wildfire season.
The main cause of the flames is extremely dry weather, but they don’t usually start this early in the year. These early fires signal that Florida will have a particularly severe year for wildfires, and residents should have a plan in place to evacuate if a fire approaches.
Fortunately, no fatalities have been reported as a result of the out-of-control wildfires in Florida, but the evacuation of the nursing facility is concerning. Floridians are currently experiencing severe trauma, and they could use all of our thoughts and prayers, as well as any assistance we can provide.
