Putnam: FWC contractor caused Eastpoint forest fire; prescribed burnings halted statewide Authorities believe they've discovered the source of the Eastpoint wildfire: a prescribed burn.

Jeff Burlew and Jeffrey Schweers | Tallahassee Democrat

Show Caption Hide Caption Eastpoint Wildfire recovery Eastpoint Fire victims pick up the pieces

Lightning, arson and trash burning were eliminated from consideration.

FWC suspended its prescribed burn program statewide, the agency said in a news release Wednesday

12:30 p.m.

Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced this morning that a Tallahassee-based company conducting a prescribed burn caused the wildfire that ravaged a heavily wooded Eastpoint neighborhood.

Putnam identified the vendor as Wildlands Fire Services, Inc., which now goes by the name Wildlands Service, Inc. The company, which was hired by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, started the prescribed burn on June 18, a week before the wildfire hit Eastpoint.

“My heart goes out to those affected by this devastating wildfire, and I thank all of our partners in the response effort to stop the spread of the fire,” Putnam said in a news release.

More: Manmade cause of Eastpoint wildfire prompts anger

Meanwhile, FWC continued to say the cause was "unknown" but announced it was suspending its statewide prescribed fire program while its inspector general conducted an investigation into its policies and protocols.

"We’re taking a proactive approach, reviewing the policies and processes," said Ronnie Austin, director of investigations for the FWC Office of Inspector General. "We are just doing that to make sure the polices are strong, up to date and being followed."

The FWC "is not doing any investigative work about the fire itself," Austin said. "That rests solely with Agriculture and the Franklin County Sheriff's Office."

Doug Williams, the owner of Wildlands, said he was "hearing about this for the first time," when a Tallahassee Democrat reporter called to ask about the news this morning.

"I can't really tell you anything," Williams said.

Law enforcement agents with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services recently contacted the company to schedule an interview to discuss the fire, agency officials said. However, the company asked to reschedule the interview and a new date was not set.

Williams said his company, based in Tallahassee, contracted with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to conduct a controlled burn of 480 acres “in what they call the Magnolia Bluff management area.”

Wildlands has been conducting controlled burns for 18 years with different agencies.

“Occasionally we get escapes, but nothing like this,” Williams said. “What I said I think is enough until I hear from an official.”

The fire, which is out save for hot spots, burned more than 800 acres, destroyed three dozen homes and damaged four others.

Aftermath:

10:15 a.m. Update:

Doug Williams, owner of Wildlands Service Inc., said he wasn’t contacted by state officials and did not know that Adam Putnam said agriculture department investigators had determined his company was responsible for the wildfire.

“I’m hearing about this for the first time,” WIlliams told the Tallahassee Democrat. “I can’t really tell you anything. I’ve been down in the Keys since Sunday. I’m not informed on it really.”

Williams said his company, Wildlands Service Inc., based in Tallahassee, contracted with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to conduct a controlled burn of 480 acres “in what they call the Magnolia Bluff management area.”

Wildlands has been conducting controlled burns for 18 years with different agencies.

“Occasionally we get escapes, but nothing like this,” he said. “What I said I think is enough until I hear from an official.”

John Saddler, prescribed fire manager for the Florida Forest Service, said the burn was conducted on June 18.

Original story:

The Limerock wildfire in Eastpoint that destroyed three dozen homes was caused by a state vendor conducting a prescribed burn on land managed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced today.

“My heart goes out to those affected by this devastating wildfire, and I thank all of our partners in the response effort to stop the spread of the fire,” Putnam said in a news release.

Putnam said the vendor that conducted the prescribed burn for FWC was Wildlands Service, Inc.

The Forest Service, which is overseen by Putnam, led efforts to contain and extinguish the wildfire. The Department of Agriculture led the investigation into the fire. Others assisting included the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, FWC, the Department of Environmental Protection, the Eastpoint Volunteer Fire Department and other local fire departments.

Putnam said investigators ruled out other possible causes, including lightning and arson.

Meanwhile, FWC suspended its prescribed burn program statewide, the agency said in a news release also issued this morning. FWC said it was continuing to investigate "the unknown cause" of the fire.

"While the cause of the wildfire is still unknown and is being investigated by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, the FWC Inspector General is also investigating that all protocols and operations at FWC’s prescribed fire program were followed and that the agency’s program provides the safest operation," the agency said in a news release.

Check back for updates.

Here's how much damage the Eastpoint fire did The fire burned almost 1000 acres in 24 hours through a fishing village in Florida's panhandle.

More from the Eastpoint wildfire

The losses: Eastpoint fire takes out 36 homes, leaving uncertainty for displaced residents

Photos: Pets who were saved from the Eastpoint fire

Yesterday evening: Eastpoint fire: Officials stay mum, are unsure about cause of blaze