Alaqua Animal Refuge may need assistance with animal evacuation
UPDATE: Alaqua Animal Refuge is safe….
3:30 from South Walton Fire District:
The Florida Highway Patrol is reopening a portion of State Road 20 shut down by a large wildfire burning south of the road. The road was shut down between Basin Bayou and Portland due to heavy smoke. FHP troopers are reopening the road and traffic will move at about 15 mph. Between 200 and 250 acres of scattered areas between S.R. 20 and Choctawhatchee Bay were still burning as of 2:30 p.m. Eglin’s FD and the Florida Division of Forestry remain on the scene. Drive carefully in this general area!
From the Walton County Sheriff’s Office:
Sept. 21, 2010 at 1:15 p.m. – Authorities are currently on scene of a forest fire located on the Eglin Reservation near Basin Bayou on the south side of Highway 20. At the present time Highway 20 is closed to traffic from the intersection of Site C6 Road at Portland over to Basin Bayou on Highway 20.
Deputies are currently located at the Okaloosa / Walton County line to assist motorist. Heavy smoke is in the area and drivers are urged to use caution.
Fire fighters from the Division of Forestry, Jackson Guard, and Walton County Fire Rescue are working currently to battle the blaze. The blaze has been estimated to be between 200 to 300 acres.
Drivers are encouraged to find alternative routes to Highway 20.
UPDATED 3:30 pm. : Rescinded Alaqua Animal Refuge may need your help! Due to the fire in North Walton, AAR has been put on standby for evacuation. The will need to move 250-plus animals. If you have a horse trailer, portable kennels, a location to temporarily house any of the animals or can help us in any way with the physical evacuation, please call 850-855-0055
Mary Ann Martineau
September 21, 2010I am available to house some dogs an cats temporarily if necessary. Let me know if I can get thru to Alaqua from Destin.
Laurie Hood
September 21, 2010The refuge is safe and we appreciate the rapid response SO much from the community. The Sheriff put us on stand-by for an evacuation and as soon as the word got out, we were overloaded with offers to help. What an awesome place we live in!!!!