FL Wildfires: Evacuations Lifted As Blaze Continues To Spread

PANAMA CITY, FL — Mandatory evacuations for the Bear Creek area caused by wildfires in the Florida Panhandle have been lifted, according to Bay County authorities.

The Bay County Sheriff's Office announced the end of mandatory evacuations in the area Wednesday morning, allowing area residents to return to their homes.

Despite the end of the evacuations, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire is still growing as dry, windy conditions and acres of downed trees from Hurricane Michael in 2018 continue to fuel the blaze, according to the Florida Forest Service. The blaze now covers over 33,000 acres, up from 28,000 Tuesday evening, and is still only 10 percent contained, the agency said in its Wednesday morning update.

The Chipola Complex, which includes the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, Adkins Avenue Fire and Star Avenue Fire, now covers over 34,000 acres. The other two fires are 80 percent contained, according to authorities.

Thunderstorms and showers are in the forecast for the Panama City area over the next three days, but officials were not optimistic it would be enough to decrease the threat posed by the wildfires in Tuesday evening's update.

Voluntary evacuations were put in place in the Kinard community in Calhoun County on Tuesday based on the direction of the fire, a Florida Forest Service spokesperson confirmed to Patch on Wednesday morning.

Previous reports from state agencies that there had been evacuations in the area caused confusion when they were disputed by Calhoun County officials, who said there have been no mandatory evacuations in the county.

Bay County Emergency Services moved its mobile command center from the Panama City Mall overnight to help authorities in Calhoun County. Emergency responders are still available to help protect homes in the Bear Creek area, officials said.