Some residents allowed to go home as Florida wildfires grow

Hundreds of residents forced to evacuate as blazes in the Florida Panhandle threatened their homes have been allowed to return, even as three wildfires in the region have grown to more than 29,000 acres

Florida WIldfires (Northwest Florida Daily News)

Hundreds of residents forced to evacuate as blazes in the Florida Panhandle threatened their homes have been allowed to return to their homes, even as three wildfires in the region have grown to more than 29,000 acres (11,735 hectares).

Over the weekend, 1,100 residents were evacuated from homes in Bay County, Florida. But officials gave the approval Monday for about 600 residents to return after one of the fires — the 875-acre (355 hectares) Adkins Avenue Fire — was 50% contained.

The largest of the wildfires, the Bertha Swamp Road Fire, has grown to more than 28,000 acres (11,330 hectares) and was only 10% contained. Mandatory evacuations remained in place for hundreds of residents who fled because of this fire, officials said Tuesday.

A third blaze, the Star Avenue Fire, forced the evacuation of a state-operated nursing home for veterans Sunday but residents were allowed to return Monday. As of Tuesday morning, the 250-acre (100 hectares) wildfire was 60% contained.