CLAY COUNTY, Fla. \u2013 The massive Railroad Fire burning near the Clay\u2013Putnam County line now spans around 4,186 acres and is about 55% contained, as of Wednesday morning.<\/p>\n
The fire is the result of two wildfires\u2014the Crews Road Fire in Clay County and the Railroad Complex Fire in Putnam County\u2014merging into an \u201cunpredictable\u201d blaze, according to the Florida Forest Service.<\/p>\n
MORE: Full coverage of Railroad Fire in Clay, Putnam counties<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cOur fire grew very rapidly as soon as the cold front came through, and it went from, as they described, a very small series of fires along the rail lines to a large combined fire that was quickly approaching structures,\u201d explained Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock. \u201cLuckily, it occurred late enough in the day that as conditions started to moderate slightly, we were able to get control.\u201d<\/p>\n Crews continued to work into the night, establishing fire break lines and concentrating on areas of concern. Three large tankers and two scoopers conducted retardant and water drops to battle the blaze. <\/p>\n WATCH: Press play below for our full interview with Chief Mock<\/p>\n In Putnam County, fire crews are also working on two other fires in the area: One on State Road 19 South (Mondex), where crews have been assisting the Florida Forest Service with mop-up and containment operations on a fire that has been burning for several weeks.<\/p>\n The Pace Court fire originally started on Jan. 31 in the Interlachen area, where crews are working a flare-up that is endangering a structure.<\/p>\n The burning acreage is a mix of wooded land and recently clear-cut land that has massive amounts of underbrush, which can feed fires.<\/p>\n \u201cNot only do we have the freeze damage and those plants that are kind of dormant into the fire areas, but now leaves, pine needles are dropping, and that\u2019s really both building up and giving more fuel to the fire, as well as accelerating that fire development,\u201d Mock said in an interview with anchor Bruce Hamilton on The Morning Show. \u201cThese conditions are not unique. They occur from time to time in our area, and then they present large challenges for us to control fires.\u201d<\/p>\n Smoke from all of the fires is reducing visibility and may impact air quality.<\/p>\n Anyone who would like to donate food and drinks to working firefighters may do so starting at 7 a.m. Wednesday at the Clay County Fairgrounds Exhibit Hall 2, 2463 FL-16 in Green Cove Springs. Items like water, sports drinks and prepackaged snacks are most needed. <\/p>\n Evacuations, closures, cancellations<\/p>\n Voluntary evacuations are in place in Putnam County north of Bostwick for residents along Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road and White Tail Trail. <\/p>\n The Bostwick Community Center, located at 125 Tillman St. in Palatka, has been set up as a shelter for evacuees.<\/p>\n The Coast Guard issued a Marine Advisory on Tuesday morning because of zero visibility on the St. Johns River near Bostwick and north into Clay.<\/p>\n Authorities say smoke from the Railroad Fire is affecting Palatka, East Palatka and even south Putnam.<\/p>\n Hilliard Elementary School messaged parents on Tuesday that, because of conditions, testing for students in kindergarten through second grade that was set for Tuesday will be rescheduled for a later date. Families will be notified once new dates are confirmed. If conditions permit, Math testing will resume on Thursday, April 23.<\/p>\n we have made the decision to postpone testing for students in kindergarten through second grade today. Testing will be rescheduled for a later date, and families will be notified once new dates are confirmed. If conditions permit, Math testing will resume on Thursday, 4\/23\/26.<\/p>\n In Putnam County, the Law Enforcement Memorial that was scheduled for Tuesday night was canceled because of an increase in smoke, visibility and respiratory concerns from the fire. <\/p>\n \u201cUnfortunately, until we get a change in either the weather conditions or we get some rain, which doesn\u2019t seem likely, we have to keep those advisories in place to make sure we have comfortable areas for our trucks to get into and also for people not to be in danger,\u201d said Mock.<\/p>\n Because of the fire\u2019s erratic behavior, officials are urging residents to prepare now for the possibility of mandatory evacuations, although those have not yet been ordered.<\/p>\n They warn that if conditions worsen, those evacuations could become mandatory, and residents need to be prepared to move quickly.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to want to make sure you keep your gas tanks no less than half full, your electric vehicles no less than half full. Because when we call for that evacuation, it\u2019s not going to be time to go to the gas station, it\u2019s going to be time to get the heck out of dodge and move very quickly,\u201d said Kevin Guthrie, Executive Director for the Florida Division of Emergency Management. \u201cRight now, half is the new empty. If you are at half, go ahead and fill that tank up so you are ready.\u201d<\/p>\n Clay County Emergency Management (William Sandidge\/WJXT)<\/p>\n The Jacksonville Equestrian Center has offered to take in animals needing to evacuate because of the fires for $25 a night to cover the cost of stripping the stalls and two bags of shavings.<\/p>\n The Rodeheaver Boys Ranch is also offering a safe place for horses in their paddocks, according to the Putnam County Sheriff\u2019s Office<\/a>. For more information, contact Barn Manager Crystal at 386-336-3435.<\/p>\n 24\/7 resources <\/p>\n