Gulf Shores Brush Fire
From the Mobile Press Register…
GULF SHORES, Alabama — What began as a 3-acre blaze when firefighters first responded early this afternoon has rapidly grown to a 200-acre fire north of Lake Shelby at Gulf State Park in Gulf Shores, according to Gulf Shores Deputy Fire Chief Keith Martin.
The flames are moving northeast towards the Orange Beach Sportsplex, he said. The fire is about 20 miles west of the sports center, he said.
A helicopter provided by the Alabama Department of Transportation is expected to soon begin dumping water to prevent the fire from getting closer to the sportsplex and other places that could be endangered, Martin said.
A few hours ago, electricity was rerouted from endangered power lines that run through the park, he said.
The fire began after 1 p.m. near camp areas at the park, he said. It spread quickly due to dry conditions. At about 2 p.m., the Alabama Department of Forestry sought assistance from by firefighters from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Foley, Fort Morgan and Oyster Bay, he said.
Smoke billows from a blaze at Gulf State Park on Saturday afternoon, June 25, 2011. (Submitted by Brandon Ellis)
Despite efforts to fight the fire, which included setting controlled blazes to get rid of fuel ahead of the fire, the blaze has grown in size and intensity, Martin said.
One road and a camp site at the park have been evacuated, park officials said. The nearby Azalea Village Mobile Home Park on Canal Road was evacuated as well, officials said.
Category: Hodgepodge
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