Levy County chief reports 2,364-acre Cow Creek fire, board to consider countywide fire/EMS workgroup

Chief Harrell briefed the Levy County Board of County Commissioners on the Cow Creek fire, saying the blaze had burned roughly 2,364 acres and was about 65% contained. He described rapid, extreme fire behavior that produced large acreage growth within hours of ignition and explained crews were now working through reburn areas where dead pine needles ignited again.

Harrell credited mutual-aid partners and local volunteers for limiting structural losses. “We were able to protect 35 structures,” he said, adding that, to his knowledge, the only structure lost in the incidents he described was a shed and no one had been hospitalized or killed. He listed resources that responded: Type 6 brush engines, structural engines, tankers, helicopters, Forest Service crews and mutual-aid apparatus from neighboring counties.

Commissioners and staff praised firefighters, county departments and volunteers for the response. One commissioner said it was “amazing that we didn't lose any structures” and noted neighbors and contractors helped move livestock, campers and equipment to safety. Harrell said response logistics included staging and water resupply from the county Public Safety complex and that the Forest Service was managing ongoing suppression work; the county supplied water and remained available if additional assistance was requested.

Harrell reported drought and weather conditions drove the fire’s behavior: a spot weather observation had shown very low relative humidity in the teens during the event and the county’s drought-index average remained in the mid-600s despite recent rain. He said humidity had improved since and that forecasted humidity increases should reduce extreme fire behavior in the near term.

Following the briefing, the county manager and commissioners discussed forming a multi-jurisdictional workgroup to evaluate fire and EMS services countywide and to include municipal chiefs in that review. The board supported having a commissioner liaison meet with local fire chiefs to start conversations and requested staff return with a proposed workgroup structure and timeline.

The board did not take a final formal action on reorganization of services during the meeting; the request was recorded as direction to develop a workgroup and coordinate an initial meeting with municipal chiefs and staff.