'A living, breathing beast': Bertha Swamp Road Fire sees minimal growth Wednesday night
BAY COUNTY — There were no significant changes overnight to the three wildfires that make up the Chipola Complex.
According to a post on the Bay County, Florida Emergency Services Facebook page from about 9 a.m. Thursday, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, the largest wildfire in the state, covered about 33,131 acres and was 20% contained.
This is only about 80 acres larger than what county officials reported Wednesday. It is also about a 10% increase in containment, which firefighters were able to accomplish with the help of some much-needed rain.
"This is a living, breathing beast," Brad Monroe, chief of emergency services in Bay County, said in a press conference on Tuesday of the Bertha Swamp Road Fire. "When it produces its own weather, you see lightning strikes within a fire on a bright sunny day, it's incredible. Words cannot describe it."
Neighbors plan fundraiser: Magnolia Hills residents organize fundraiser for 2 families who lost homes to wildfires
Wednesday's wildfire update: Bertha Swamp Road Fire grows to 33K acres, still only 10% contained
The post also noted that by Thursday morning, there were no notable changes to the Adkins Avenue Fire or the Star Avenue Fire from Wednesday evening.
At that time, the Adkins Avenue Fire still covered 875 acres and was 85% contained, while the Star Avenue Fire still spanned 197 acres and was 95% contained.
By about noon Thursday, containment of the Adkins Avenue Fire had jumped to 95%. according to Julie Allen, spokeswoman for the Florida Forest Service Blue Incident Management Team.
Like the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, both the Adkins Avenue Fire and the Star Avenue Fire saw increases in containment alongside Wednesday's rains.
A press release from the Defense Health Agency added that TRICARE beneficiaries in Bay and Calhoun counties can receive emergency prescription refills until March 19 because of the ongoing crisis in the areas caused by the Bertha Swamp Road Fire.
"To receive an emergency refill or prescription medications, TRICARE beneficiaries should take their prescription bottle to any TRICARE retail network pharmacy," the release reads. "If the bottle is unavailable or the label is damaged or missing, beneficiaries should contact Express Scripts or their retail network pharmacy for assistance."
This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Bertha Swamp fire growth minimal; rains help Florida firefighters
