Hundreds evacuated as wildfires rage in Florida Panhandle Authorities say firefighters in the Florida Panhandle are battling wildfires that have forced some 1,600 people to evacuate from their homesMILTON, Fla. -- Firefighters in the Florida Panhandle continued battling an erratic fire Thursday that had scorched thousands of acres of woods, razed dozens of homes and forced some 1,600 people to evacuate from their neighborhoods. Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried said in a news conference Thursday afternoon that fire officials are working around the clock to contain the wildfires. In Santa Rosa County, which is just east of Pensacola, a 2,000-acre fire resulted in 1,100 homes being evacuated Wednesday. Crews from other areas of Florida, including Jacksonville, are assisting firefighters who've been working long hours since Monday. In neighboring Walton County, a 575-acre fire in Walton County prompted about 500 people to evacuate.

Source: ABC News May 07, 2020 05:53 UTC