Wildfires in the Florida Panhandle: What you need to know Tuesday, Mar. 8

Firefighters are now battling three wildfires in the Florida Panhandle: a fire that started Friday on the east side of Panama City known as the Adkins Avenue Fire, a massive blaze called the Bertha Swamp Road Fire that crept into Bay County on Saturday afternoon and swelled to cover over 28,000 acres by Tuesday, and a third blaze that popped up south of Tram Road and west of Star Avenue.

Some mandatory evacuation orders were lifted Monday for homes in the areas of the Adkins Avenue and Star Avenue fires.

Veterans also have been allowed to return to Clifford Chester Sims State Veterans Nursing Home. Nearly 90 residents were evacuated to the Bay County Fairgrounds on Sunday due to the proximity of the Star Avenue Fire.

Evacuations are still in effect for the Bear Creek area due to the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, which grew significantly Monday to 13,000 acres before growing to 28,100 acres overnight.

The latest fire info: Bertha Swamp Road fire explodes to 28,100 acres, only 10% contained

Gov. Ron DeSantis made a second trip to Bay County on Sunday and said in a news conference that the Bertha Swamp Road Fire is "a big boy and is raging very quickly." He also confirmed that several first responders have been injured while tending to the fires.

DeSantis added that two Black Hawk helicopters and two Chinook helicopters with the U.S. National Guard have been deployed to help contain the fires.

"There are currently 168 wildfires burning 15,300 acres throughout Florida," according to a Sunday news release from Florida Forest Service.

Here's what else we know about the three blazes burning in Bay County as of Tuesday:

Panama City fires Sunday updates: Third fire breaks out, Sims State Veterans Nursing Home evacuated

From Saturday: Adkins Avenue, Bertha Swamp fires force more evacuations; fairgrounds opened for evacuees

What started it all: Two homes destroyed, dozen more damaged in Adkins Road fire. Here's how it started

Where are the wildfires in Bay County and Panama City Florida area?

Can't see the satellite map? Click here.

Have there been any fatalities from the Florida Panhandle fires?

There were early reports of firefighters suffering injuries, but according to a Monday morning tweet from Bay County Emergency Services, there have been no fatalities and no injuries from the local wildfires. "All first responders are safe."

No civilian injuries have been reported as of Monday morning. "We haven't been notified of any," Bay County Emergency Services Chief Brad Monroe said in a WMBB 13 interview. "That is a possibility."

Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, however, sent two mental health professionals to his hometown of Bay County to "ensure the mental health needs of fire teams is being properly met," according to a news release from his office Monday.

"Firefighters are currently battling wildfires on a number of front and the members of our fire service community are giving everything they have to put them out," Patronis said in the release.

What and where is the Bertha Swamp Fire?

The Bertha Swamp Road Fire crept into northern Bay County Saturday. By Tuesday morning it had surged to cover about 28,100 acres, doubling in size in 24 hours to become the largest ongoing wildfire in the state. The Florida Fire Service reports it as almost 10% contained. The fire continues to show extreme activity as steady winds push the fire through thick, dry, and dead trees and vegetation left behind from Hurricane Michael.

A strike team of heavy bulldozers is focusing on building firelines and defensible space around the communities near Bear Creek.

Mandatory evacuations remain in place for residents in and around the Bear Creek area south and east of US 231. Motorists and residents are encouraged to remain clear of the area.

While fire apparatuses and 17 bulldozers were working to contain the Bertha Swamp Road Fire on Sunday, more than a dozen tractors and structure protection units were also on the ground.

The Deer Point Lake Reservoir is closed to boaters from the Deer Point Dam to High Point Park.

Officials on Saturday said they were not aware of any damage in Bay County caused by the Bertha Swamp Road Fire.

Want to help? How to help victims of the Adkins Avenue and Bertha Swamp Road wildfires

What and where is the Adkins Avenue Fire?

The Adkins Avenue Fire, which covered about 1,400 acres in the Springfield and Panama City area on Saturday, was about 50% contained at 875 acres as of Tuesday morning, according to the Florida Fire Service.

As of Monday afternoon, the mandatory evacuation order for homes south of U.S. 231 to U.S. 98 and between Transmitter Road and Star Avenue has been lifted. Residents living in this area were allowed to return home after fire personnel deemed it safe.

But in a Monday evening press conference Bay County Sheriff Tommy Ford said, “we are not out of the woods yet."

The Adkins fire is no longer considered an immediate threat to home and structures, but Bay County EMS is urging residents to monitor fire conditions and local media.

Gov. DeSantis announced in a news conference on Sunday that the Adkins Avenue and Bertha Swamp Road fires have caused about 1,100 homes to be evacuated. This is about 100 more than Saturday.

Another home lost: Family had just rebuilt their home after Hurricane Michael. They lost it all again in Adkins fire

Heartbreak in 7 minutes: Wilkies watch their home go up in Adkins fire on security cams

DeSantis on Saturday declared a local state of emergency for Bay County in order to free up more resources for the state and local governments to deal with the fire and its aftermath.

Fire apparatuses and 25 bulldozers were working to contain the blaze Sunday, the Bay County EMS reported on its Facebook page.

At least eight homes were engulfed in the fire, two were confirmed destroyed and about a dozen more were reported damaged.

What and where is the Star Avenue Fire?

The Florida Forest Service - Chipola announced Sunday afternoon via Twitter that a new active fire sprang up on Star Avenue. The fire grew from 40 acres to 250 acres as a result of high winds and dry weather conditions. The fire was 60% contained as of Tuesday morning, the Forest Service said.

Officials have warned residents should be alert and be prepared to evacuate if ordered.

Bay County Transit was assisting with the evacuation of the Sims State Veterans Nursing Home and there are seven bulldozers currently working to contain the blaze.

Watch: Aerial video shows just how close Star Avenue Fire came to veterans nursing home

The following road closures have been announced:

• Tram Road from Highway 98 to Star Avenue

• Star Avenue from Nehi Road to Pittsburgh Avenue

• Tram Road from E. 15th to North Star Avenue

The Star Avenue Fire currently poses no threat to the Bay County Jail, according to Bay County Florida Emergency Services.

What is Chipola Complex?

Chipola Complex is the name the Florida Forest Service's Blue Incident Management team is using for the combined efforts to battle both the Adkins Avenue Fire and the Bertha Swamp Road Fire.

When two or more wildfires are burning close together, they are often called a "complex" and firefighters attack them under a unified command.

Will Bay County schools be closed Tuesday due to the fires?

Waller Elementary School will remain closed on Tuesday "due to that school's proximity to the smoke," Bay District Schools announced Monday afternoon in a news release. "All other schools will be open on a usual schedule."

"We do understand that many of our families, and some of our employees, have had to evacuate because of the fires, and we will continue to do all we can to connect them with the resources they need," the release says. "Our mental health teams at our schools are working hard to support our students and staff through this challenge."

Merritt Brown Middle School and Tommy Smith and Waller elementary schools were closed Monday as a result of the raging fires in Bay County.

Rain chances: Is potential relief in the forecast?

Heavy rain rolling in and strong winds dying down later in the week could be good news for those fighting Bay County’s wildfires, though it likely will be only a temporary reprieve.

National Weather Service meteorologist Cameron Young said that by Wednesday, a cold front will begin moving through the Panama City area, which will significantly increase the chances of rain to as high as 90% chance by Thursday.

“We definitely have some much-needed rain in the forecast,” he said. “We’re looking at between 3 and 5 inches over the next five to seven days.”

Nathan Cobb and Ebonee Burrell of The News Herald and Florida digital producer Hannah Leyva also contributed to this report. Check back for more updates.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Florida fires: Panama City-area Bertha Swamp Road, Adkins Avenue information