What moron would have a controlled burn during the summer with the weather we have been having.

Was it on St Joe's property?

If so, Bob Ball is laughing his butt off.

Where in PCB? There's smoke all over Inlet Beach; just started within the last hour or two. How close??!!

it was horrible; I just drove through it--or rather I just "started and stopped" through it. Traffic was stopped the smoke was so thick.

From what I heard from Ch 13 reporter, it was a controlled burn, north of 98 and not far from the Bridge--the smoke was billowing out like a plane crash. I thought at first it was a tornado...when I saw it from my office window; the wind was blowing really hard and it caught the flames and spread them all over the place. There was lightening over the Gulf, so it looked like a storm. It was weird.

The smoke was still bothering me at the Publix at Inlet Beach after about a hour of trying to get through the traffic. It did not clear up enough to turn off my headlights until I reached Highway 79--after that, it was just the smell that was bad, but no smoke on the ground.

While I was sitting in traffic the ash was falling all over my car--I really wanted to get out of there, because the cops were afraid the flames were going to reach the highway--but the traffic was so snarled there was not where to go...scary.

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Thanks, GW. Glad you got thru safely! Channel 13 says it's on Wildwood Road, which is just this side of the bridge. Never a dull moment...

It seems to me, that after a heavy rain as we received today, would be the perfect time for a controlled burn, especially given the fact that in two days, people will be igniting firecrackers all over the place. I think we should be thankful that they are doing the burn, while conditions are good, rather than waiting for some real idiot shooting off firecrackers to do it, and having it be out of control.

FYI- I can smell the smoke all the way in Blue Mtn Beach this evening. The heavier air with moisture, keeps the smoke closer to the ground, so the smoke will be around for the evening, I'm sure.

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SJ, it had not rained in the area of the fire today...but, apparently, it was a sudden gust of wind that was related to a rain/thunderstorm up at highway 20 that caused the flames to leap.

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Say it ain't so Joe.

90+ degrees, middle of July is never a good time for a controlled burn.

You burn during the winter and spring because stuff like this happens.

I have forgotten more about controlled burns than most folks know...useless knowledge generally but somebody should have asked me today.

A. Whose idea was it?
B. Who gave the permit?

Besides it rained .3 of an inch at my house...not enough to spit.

Tons of smoke in Watersound tonight. I thought it must have been a lightning strike induced wildfire. Thanks for starting this thread!

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St. Joe controlled burn gets out of control (see VIDEO) - The News Herald

Have we not had this discussion before?!!! Major holidays are dangerous times to do any type of controlled burn here. Then, why would anyone take the chance to discomfort their guests on one of the busiest holiday weekends? Someone, please put in a memo in the permanent file -- no controlled burns the day or two before Memorial Day, Labor Day, Fourth of July, and a few more. GEEZ. BTW Don't think we got any rain on our yard at Eastern Lake.

I was wondering why it looked like the time I was in Long Beach CA.

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FOX NEWS-WE ALTER REALITY, YOU GET SOLD A PRECONCEIVED NARRATIVE

The most sensible piece of information in this thread.

PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach, Bay County and Division of Forestry firefighters spent Thursday afternoon trying to fight a blaze the St. Joe Co. started but could not contain, official said.

Employees of the St. Joe set 900 acres of brush on fire Thursday for a controlled burn, but a sudden change in the wind pushed the fire out of its controlled zone, said Valerie Lovett, a spokeswoman for Bay County.
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I would think that after St Joe's massive employee downsizings, they wouldn't have enough employees left to handle a 900-acre brushfire...apparently, they don't.

.

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But hey...Top Ramen tastes a whole lot better when you eat it off of a Granite Countertop. (Mr & Mrs Too Much Homebuyer)

Florida State Flower

And that's the truth....

These two posts say it all for me.

Once again, St. Joe can't decide what they want to accomplish...firefighting is certainly not it.

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The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

I think someone at St Joe should be sent a bill for all the police, EMS, firefighting, traffic control, personnel that had to fight to contain both the "out of control" controlled burn; and the horrible traffic snarl the smoke caused; not to speak of the smog that resulted.

On 4th of July weekend in a tourist town--

and, they were lucky. The policeman I spoke to on Highway 98 as I waited in the gridlock, said they were quite concerned that the fire would not be contained before it reached the highway with all those people stuck in their cars....I am not sure what I could have done if it had; abandon the car and run?

completely unbelievable that anyone would start this fire under these conditions.

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Bravo...excellent idea!

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The mind is like a parachute, it works best when it is open.

who is bob ball?

was the "out of control" burn, another attempt by some to turn Emerald Paradise into THE BEACH!

Take a look at the pictures.....

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Actually, it was Ed Ball...the manager of the DuPont Trust that owned all of what is now St. Joe. He was quite an interesting character; he died sometime in the 80s. He would be, I think, appalled at some of the recent developments with the land. I had the privilege of attending a lunch with him and the then Lt Gov and other politicians and business people once...it was a surreal experience. His attitudes were different to say the least.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-onlin..._1p13EdBa.html

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"If people cannot write well, they cannot think well, and if they cannot think well, others will do their thinking for them."
George Orwell

Wow, when I smelled it my guesses were 1) wildfire started by lightning 2) idiots having a bonfire nearby 3) idiots started a wildfire w/ fireworks.

Apparently #2 was right on the money.

I continue to be less than impressed w/ St. Joe's thought processes and actions. They have a case of corporate cranial - rectal inversion like I've never seen.

And just 'cuz I'm feeling naughty - perhaps the fire was an attempt to distract homeowners in town for the holiday from the rumors of financial impropriety I've been hearing.

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The enemy is ignorance.

thats who i though you meant, great book about him and his relationship with claude pepper...