Five Mile Swamp Fire update - Thurs., May 7, 12 p.m.

• The fire is estimated to be 40% contained.
• The fire is estimated to cover 2,000 acres.
• Santa Rosa County in conjunction with the Florida Forest Service are still assessing the number of damaged structures and that information will be released as it is confirmed. 

• Level 1 - Everything south of Mary Kitchens Road on Avalon and Garcon Point Road, and on the west side of Avalon is at a Level 1 evacuation, meaning residents can return to their homes but need to stay aware. Level 1 also extends up to Da Lisa Road.
• Level 2 - Indian Bayou to Mary Kitchens Road and the houses along Mary Kitchens Road are a Level 2 evacuation and may return to home but must be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice.

• There are 1110 residential structures, including mobile and modular homes, single family residential homes, and guest houses, in the affected area Garcon Point south of I-10.
• Of those, 649 residences in the original evacuation area (east of Avalon, south of I-10).
• Of those, 366 residences in the area of most concern (east of Avalon, south of 10, and north of Mary Kitchens).
• Preliminary reports are that 18 structures have been affected.
• The Ski Watch subdivision north of I-10 and Garcon Point Road, with approximately 30 homes, is also an area of concern and those numbers are not included in the total.

• Today’s weather is somewhat improved from yesterday’s weather in that the winds will be light and variable from the north at three to seven m.p.h. However, relative humidity will continue to be extremely low at approximately 20%.
• Florida Forest Service crews from throughout the state have been called in to assist with the firefighting efforts. They will focus on improving established containment lines around the fire’s perimeter today in areas both north and south of Interstate 10. They will also conduct structure protection assessments to establish containment lines around homes and neighborhoods that could potentially be threatened by the fire.
• In light of these conditions, officials with the Blackwater Forestry Center are continuing to withhold burn authorizations in Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties.
• Florida Forest Service Wildfire Dashboard - https://fdacs.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/7c243720c87f4a3482db6ebf77efe99d
  

• Gulf Power is working as quickly as possible to restore power.
• Some power poles have been burned and will take longer to replace.
• Check the Gulf Power Outage Map for updates.