SANTA ROSA BEACH — South Walton Fire District firefighters responded to two significant fire incidents Monday afternoon, including a nearly six-acre woods fire and a residential structure fire just hours apart.
The first call came in around 1 p.m. on June 8 for a reported outside fire near Joy Lane and Indian Woman Road in Santa Rosa Beach.
When firefighters arrived, they encountered heavy smoke conditions and discovered a fire moving through a wooded area. Crews immediately shifted their focus to protecting nearby homes while working alongside the Florida Forest Service to contain the blaze.
As the fire spread, precautionary evacuation notices were issued for residents living on Joy Lane and Indian Woman Road. Officials established a unified command involving the South Walton Fire District, the Florida Forest Service Chipola District, Walton County Emergency Management, and the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.
After approximately two hours of firefighting efforts, the Florida Forest Service determined the blaze had burned 5.74 acres and was about 90 percent contained. No homes were damaged, and no injuries were reported.
The Florida Forest Service is investigating the cause of the fire and continued monitoring containment lines through Monday evening and into Tuesday.
Just hours later, and only moments after clearing the woods fire scene, South Walton firefighters were dispatched to a potential structure fire near Chat Holly Road at approximately 3:30 p.m.
Arriving crews found smoke coming from the eaves of a residence and forced entry into the home to begin a search and fire attack.
Firefighters located a smoldering bathroom exhaust fan and discovered signs that the fire had extended into the attic space. Crews ventilated the home to remove smoke and checked surrounding areas for hidden fire.
Firefighters remained on scene for about an hour conducting overhaul operations and ensuring the structure was safe before returning it to the homeowners.
Officials determined the two incidents were unrelated.
South Walton Fire District thanked its partner agencies for their assistance throughout a busy afternoon that required responses to two separate fire emergencies within a matter of hours.
All photos courtesy of the South Walton Fire District.
