Wildfire in Florida, May 7 to 31, 2007

Name: Wildfire in Florida, May 7 to 31, 2007
Start: 2007-05-07T13:00
End: 2007-05-31T23:59
Location: Florida

May 7 to 31, 2007 · NWS JAX · 3 events in 3 counties and zones

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

Tornadoes
Tropical storms and surge
Floods
Wind
Hail
Winter weather
Heat and drought
Cold
Fire, smoke and dust
Marine and coastal
Other

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 3

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS JAX wrote it up.

Lightning initiated three fires in the vicinity of Camp Bland (Clay County), Florida on Monday afternoon, May 7th. Strong winds quickly combined those fires into a single blaze with over 5,000 acres burning by Monday night. The fire area extended from the Starke area to near Waldo in northeastern Alachua County. By Tuesday 700 homes were evacuated with over 1,000 persons displaced from their homes. State Road 100 was closed from Keystone Heights to Starke and State Road 18 is closed from Hampton to State Road 100. fanned by high winds and low relative humidity values over the next few days the fire continued to grow eventually reaching 14,626 acres. The fire remains active in the swamp without significant threat to structures.

What forecasters said that day

The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.

NWS Jacksonville, FL wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at May 7, 8:24 AM EST, 4 hours 36 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, May 7, 8:24 AM EST, 4 hours 36 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
924 AM EDT MON MAY 7 2007

.UPDATE...
STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE ALONG THE COAST AND I-95 CORRIDOR TODAY
WITH CONTINUED GUSTS IN THE 35-40 MPH RANGE AND THIS WILL LEAD TO
SPOTTY POWER OUTAGES. OTHERWISE MUCH OF THE SCT/BKN STRATO CU OVER
THE NERN FL SECTION THIS MORNING WILL BECOME MORE FEW/SCT AS THE
DAY PROGRESSES AND IT WILL REMAIN SUNNY ACRS ALL INTERIOR
SECTIONS. NOT EXPECTING VERY MUCH IN THE WAY OF ANY PCPN THROUGH
TONIGHT OVER LAND AREAS WITH ONLY A SPRINKLE OR TWO POSSIBLE AND
WILL KEEP COASTAL SHOWERS LIMITED TO THE OPEN WATERS FOR NOW.
MAX TEMPS WILL TOP OUT IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S ACRS THE AREA.
LAKE WIND ADVISORIES/WIND ADVISORIES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE.

SURF UPDATE...HIGH TIDE OVERNIGHT WAS ABOUT 1 TO 1.5 FT ABOVE
NORMAL BUT STILL RUNNING ABOUT 0.5 FT BELOW ANY MINOR COASTAL
FLOODING LEVELS. BREAKERS ARE BEING REPORTED IN THE 6 TO 8 FT
RANGE AT LOCAL SURF STATIONS AND MINOR TO MODERATE BEACH EROSION
WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE WORST PART OF THIS EVENT.

&&

.AVIATION...
VFR CONDS THROUGH THE PERIOD. ONLY CHALLENGE WILL BE WIND GUSTS AT
COASTAL TAF SITES AS 25-30 KT GUSTS WILL BE PSBL THIS AFTERNOON.

&&

.MARINE...
WITH GALE FORCE GUSTS CONTINUING ALONG THE NEARSHORE COASTAL
WATERS WILL EXTEND THE GALE WARNINGS THROUGH THIS EVENING.
WILL NEED TO RE-VISIT THE POSSIBILITY OF STORM FORCE WIND GUSTS
OVER THE OFFSHORE WATERS FOR LATER TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY WITH
THE NEXT PACKAGE.

&&

.FIRE WEATHER...
NO CHANGES TO RED FLAGS FOR TODAY...AS STRONG WINDS AND LOW RHS
WILL COMBINE TO CREATE DANGEROUS FIRE WX CONDITIONS.

&&

.PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS...
AMG  74  49  76  59 /   0   0  10  20
SSI  69  55  73  61 /   0   0  30  40
JAX  70  53  77  57 /   0   0  20  30
SGJ  71  59  76  61 /   0  10  20  40
GNV  76  50  75  57 /   0   0  10  20
OCF  77  51  77  58 /   0   0  10  20

&&

.JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-
     BRADFORD-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-MARION-SUWANNEE-UNION.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS
     EVENING FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-BRADFORD-CLAY-COLUMBIA-DUVAL-
     GILCHRIST-HAMILTON-MARION-NASSAU-PUTNAM-SUWANNEE-UNION.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR DUVAL-FLAGLER-
     NASSAU-ST JOHNS.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR CLAY-DUVAL-FLAGLER-
     NASSAU-PUTNAM-ST JOHNS.

     FIRE WEATHER WATCH FROM TUESDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY
     EVENING FOR ALACHUA-BAKER-BRADFORD-COLUMBIA-GILCHRIST-
     HAMILTON-MARION-SUWANNEE-UNION.

GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR APPLING-
     ATKINSON-BACON-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLINCH-COFFEE-ECHOLS-JEFF
     DAVIS-PIERCE-WARE-WAYNE.

     RED FLAG WARNING FROM 1 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 8 PM EDT THIS
     EVENING FOR APPLING-ATKINSON-BACON-BRANTLEY-CHARLTON-CLINCH-
     COFFEE-ECHOLS-JEFF DAVIS-PIERCE-WARE-WAYNE.

     LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR INLAND CAMDEN-
     INLAND GLYNN.

     HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR COASTAL CAMDEN-
     COASTAL GLYNN.

     WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT TUESDAY FOR COASTAL CAMDEN-COASTAL
     GLYNN.

AM...GALE WARNING UNTIL 3 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO
     FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-FERNANDINA
     BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-ST
     AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE.

     SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND
     GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST
     AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM-ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT
     20 NM.

     GALE WARNING UNTIL 11 AM EDT THIS MORNING FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND GA
     TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST
     AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM-ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT
     20 NM.

&&

HESS/MCALLISTER

Hazardous weather outlook, May 7, 10:39 AM EST, 2 hours 21 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE JACKSONVILLE FL
1139 AM EDT MON MAY 7 2007

UPDATED HEADLINES

FLZ020>025-030>033-035>038-040-GAZ132>136-149>154-162>166-081000-
HAMILTON-SUWANNEE-COLUMBIA-BAKER-NASSAU-DUVAL-UNION-BRADFORD-CLAY-
ST JOHNS-GILCHRIST-ALACHUA-PUTNAM-FLAGLER-MARION-COFFEE-
JEFF DAVIS-BACON-APPLING-WAYNE-ATKINSON-WARE-PIERCE-BRANTLEY-
INLAND GLYNN-COASTAL GLYNN-ECHOLS-CLINCH-CHARLTON-INLAND CAMDEN-
COASTAL CAMDEN-
1139 AM EDT MON MAY 7 2007

THIS OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHEAST FLORIDA AND SOUTHEAST GEORGIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT...

...WIND ADVISORY THROUGH TUESDAY FOR COASTAL COUNTIES AS WELL AS
CLAY AND PUTNAM COUNTIES...
...LAKE WIND ADVISORY TODAY FOR REMAINING INLAND COUNTIES...
...HIGH SURF ADVISORY FOR AREA BEACHES THROUGH TUESDAY...
...GALE WARNING OVER THE COASTAL WATERS THROUGH TUESDAY...
...WILDFIRES CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEAST GEORGIA AND FLAGLER COUNTY
FLORIDA...

A VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE CENTER OFF THE CAROLINA COAST WILL ADVANCE
SOUTH TODAY. MEANWHILE...MUCH HIGHER PRESSURE CONTINUES OVER THE
MAINLAND. THESE FEATURES WILL RESULT IN STRONG NORTHERLY WINDS
OVER THE COASTAL WATERS EXTENDING OVER THE MAINLAND.

OVER THE COASTAL WATERS...A GALE WARNING CONTINUES THROUGH TUESDAY
FOR THE COASTAL WATERS. NORTHERLY WINDS OF 25 TO 35 KNOTS WILL
GENERATE 7 TO 10 FOOT SEAS IN THE NEARSHORE COASTAL WATERS AND
UPWARDS OF 16 FEET IN THE OFFSHORE COASTAL WATERS. THESE WINDS HAVE
CREATED DANGEROUS BOATING CONDITIONS AND MARINERS ARE URGED TO STAY
IN PORT UNTIL WINDS AND SEAS SUBSIDE. IN ADDITION...THESE WINDS WILL
CREATE HIGH SURF RESULTING IN HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK FOR AREA
BEACHES. THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AND
MINOR BEACH EROSION...ESPECIALLY DURING HIGH TIDE. ADDITIONAL
INFORMATION CAN BE FOUND IN THE COASTAL WATERS FORECAST...COASTAL
HAZARD MESSAGE AND SURF ZONE FORECAST.

OVER THE MAINLAND...A WIND ADVISORY CONTINUES FOR COASTAL COUNTIES AS
WELL AS PUTNAM AND CLAY COUNTIES THROUGH TUESDAY...WITH A LAKE WIND
ADVISORY IN EFFECT TODAY FOR REMAINING INLAND COUNTIES. SUSTAINED
NORTHERLY WINDS OF 20 TO 30 ARE EXPECTED TODAY...WITH GUSTS TO 35
MPH POSSIBLE AT TIMES. PLEASE REFER TO URGENT WEATHER MESSAGE FOR
MORE DETAILS.

THESE WINDS COUPLED WITH LOWERING HUMIDITIES WILL INCREASE THE
FIRE DANGER. LARGE WILDFIRES CONTINUE ACROSS THE REGION...AND
OTHER HOT SPOTS MAY RE-IGNITE AS WELL. PERSONS ENGAGED IN OUTDOOR
ACTIVITIES IN OR NEAR WOODED AREAS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY...

DANGEROUS BOATING CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY AS
VIGOROUS LOW PRESSURE CENTER IS FORECAST TO ADVANCE TOWARDS THE LOCAL
COASTLINE. THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY THE LOW PRESSURE CENTER COULD
FURTHER INTENSIFY...REQUIRING STORM WARNINGS FOR PORTIONS OF THE
LOCAL WATERS.

STRONG WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO PLAGUE THE COASTAL AREAS THROUGH AT
LEAST TUESDAY...RESULTING IN LARGE SURF AND DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS...
AS WELL AS THE POTENTIAL FOR MINOR COASTAL FLOODING AND MINOR
BEACH EROSION. RESIDENTS AND MARINERS ARE URGED TO MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS AND RELATED PRODUCTS.

IN ADDITION...WINDS AND MUCH DRIER AIR WILL RESULT IN VERY DANGEROUS
FIRE CONDITIONS THROUGH MUCH OF THE WEEK.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. HOWEVER...COASTAL
SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT ANY INSTANCES OF COASTAL FLOODING.
IN ADDITION... SPOTTERS ARE REQUESTED TO REPORT VISIBILITY
RESTRICTIONS DUE TO SMOKE.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION...VISIT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN JACKSONVILLE WEBSITE ON THE INTERNET AT WWW.SRH.NOAA.GOV/JAX.

ECZ/HESS

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

3 wildfire. Local standard time, as filed.

Wildfire, Clay

When: May 7, 1:00 PM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Clay forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Lightning initiated three fires in the vicinity of Camp Bland (Clay County), Florida on Monday afternoon, May 7th. Strong winds quickly combined those fires into a single blaze with over 5,000 acres burning by Monday night. The fire area extended from the Starke area to near Waldo in northeastern Alachua County. By Tuesday 700 homes were evacuated with over 1,000 persons displaced from their homes. State Road 100 was closed from Keystone Heights to Starke and State Road 18 is closed from Hampton to State Road 100. Fanned by high winds and low relative humidity values over the next few days the fire continued to grow eventually reaching 14,626 acres. The fire remains active in the swamp without significant threat to structures through the month. As of July 28th the Florida Division of Forestry still had this fire open as an active fire due to the possibility of it reigniting.

Wildfire, Alachua

When: May 7, 1:00 PM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Alachua forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service

Lightning initiated three fires in the vicinity of Camp Bland (Clay County), Florida on Monday afternoon, May 7th. Strong winds quickly combined those fires into a single blaze with over 5,000 acres burning by Monday night. The fire area extended from the Starke area to near Waldo in northeastern Alachua County. By Tuesday 700 homes were evacuated with over 1,000 persons displaced from their homes. State Road 100 was closed from Keystone Heights to Starke and State Road 18 is closed from Hampton to State Road 100. Fanned by high winds and low relative humidity values over the next few days the fire continued to grow eventually reaching 14,626 acres. The fire remains active in the swamp without significant threat to structures through the month. As of July 28th the Florida Division of Forestry still had this fire open as an active fire due to the possibility of it reigniting.

Wildfire, Bradford

When: May 7, 1:00 PM EST to May 31, 11:59 PM EST
Where: Bradford forecast zone
Reported by: Park/Forest Service
Coordinates: 29.950, -82.169 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Lightning initiated three fires in the vicinity of Camp Bland (Clay County), Florida on Monday afternoon, May 7th. Strong winds quickly combined those fires into a single blaze with over 5,000 acres burning by Monday night. The fire area extended from the Starke area to near Waldo in northeastern Alachua County. By Tuesday 700 homes were evacuated with over 1,000 persons displaced from their homes. State Road 100 was closed from Keystone Heights to Starke and State Road 18 is closed from Hampton to State Road 100. Fanned by high winds and low relative humidity values over the next few days the fire continued to grow eventually reaching 14,626 acres. The fire remains active in the swamp without significant threat to structures through the month. As of July 28th the Florida Division of Forestry still had this fire open as an active fire due to the possibility of it reigniting.

What these are

Wildfire: A fire burning in wildland vegetation, with its acreage and damage where known.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Florida in 2007 Every state in 2007 This day in weather history Warnings in Florida, May 2007

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 37100, 37101, 37102.