h2. Staff, Equipment Deploy to Alachua and Flagler Counties
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ today sent 11 staff members and equipment to help fight wildfires in Alachua and Flagler counties at the request of the "Florida Division of Forestry(Florida Division of Forestry)":http://www.fl-dof.com.
The District sent three Type VI engines with two-person crews to the Santa Fe fire in Alachua County. Type VI engines are equipped with 300- to 500-gallon water tanks and foam capabilities. The District also sent a truck with a strike team leader. The 6,500-acre fire in the Santa Fe Swamp Conservation Area northeast of Gainesville has prompted the "Suwannee River Water Management District(Suwannee River Water Management District)":http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us to close its Santa Fe Swamp tract to public access.
The District also sent two crews with tractor-plows to Flagler County to help fight a series of fires. Tractor-plows are used to help contain wildfires by cutting firebreaks.
According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, the District staff members will be an asset to the Division of Forestry.
"Our staff are highly trained and have excellent equipment," said Love. "We perform prescribed burns on our properties throughout the year, which gives us great experience as well. We're glad we can be available to help the Division of Forestry put out these wildfires."
The District has additional crews on standby to replace the 11 staff members who deployed today, and to support additional requests from the Division of Forestry.
The "Southwest Florida Water Management District(Southwest Florida Water Management District)":/ today sent 11 staff members and equipment to help fight wildfires in Alachua and Flagler counties at the request of the "Florida Division of Forestry(Florida Division of Forestry)":http://www.fl-dof.com.
The District sent three Type VI engines with two-person crews to the Santa Fe fire in Alachua County. Type VI engines are equipped with 300- to 500-gallon water tanks and foam capabilities. The District also sent a truck with a strike team leader. The 6,500-acre fire in the Santa Fe Swamp Conservation Area northeast of Gainesville has prompted the "Suwannee River Water Management District(Suwannee River Water Management District)":http://www.srwmd.state.fl.us to close its Santa Fe Swamp tract to public access.
The District also sent two crews with tractor-plows to Flagler County to help fight a series of fires. Tractor-plows are used to help contain wildfires by cutting firebreaks.
According to District Land Manager Kevin W. Love, the District staff members will be an asset to the Division of Forestry.
"Our staff are highly trained and have excellent equipment," said Love. "We perform prescribed burns on our properties throughout the year, which gives us great experience as well. We're glad we can be available to help the Division of Forestry put out these wildfires."
The District has additional crews on standby to replace the 11 staff members who deployed today, and to support additional requests from the Division of Forestry.