HWY 351- DIXIE

Fire Start, Size and Growth

Start Date/Time/Location: The HWY 351- DIXIE Fire (also referred to locally as the Ramsey Bend Hunting Club Fire) ignited around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, April 11, 2026. The fire is located in Dixie County, Florida, off County Road 351 (Horseshoe Highway), approximately eight miles southwest of Cross City and one mile south of Shired Island Highway near the Horseshoe Beach area.
Size and Containment: As of April 14, 2026, the fire is estimated to have burned between 550 and 700 acres. Containment is currently reported between 10% and 50%, as recent drone mapping has provided more accurate assessments of the fire's footprint and containment lines.
Fuels, Growth and Rate of Spread: Initially reported as a 170-acre brush fire, the blaze quickly spread through dry vegetation, southern rough, and brush typical of the region. The fire's growth was fueled by breezy winds, dry air, and low humidity, eventually growing to over 700 acres before forward progress was halted.
Containment Efforts: A large, multi-agency response is underway, including Dixie County Fire Rescue, the Florida Forest Service, the Cross City Fire Department, and an Engine Strike Team comprising crews from surrounding county fire departments. Response efforts have utilized up to 14 bulldozers, a helicopter, and fixed-wing flyovers completing multiple air tanker drops of fire retardant to establish and strengthen containment lines.

Emergency Information

Evacuations and Sheltering:
Mandatory Evacuation Orders: There are currently no mandatory evacuation orders in place for this fire.
Evacuation Warnings: There are no evacuation warnings active at this time.
Curfew: There are no curfew orders in place at this time.
Evacuation Shelters and Information: Because there are no active evacuations, no emergency evacuation shelters have been opened.

Road and Infrastructure Closures:

• County Road 351 (Horseshoe Highway) was shut down in the Horseshoe Beach area as a safety precaution to allow emergency crews to safely operate.
• There are no school or major infrastructure closures reported at this time.

For more information, visit:

• Florida Forest Service Current Wildfires
• Dixie County Emergency Management
• Florida Disaster Evacuation Orders

Current Impact

Impacts:
Injuries and Fatalities: There have been no injuries or fatalities reported in connection with the HWY 351- DIXIE Fire.
Structures Impacted: Currently, no homes, businesses, or notable structures are threatened, and none have been destroyed by the fire.
School and Business Closures: No school or business closures have been reported.
Notable Impacts: The primary community impact has been the disruption of local transportation and commerce due to the closure of County Road 351.

Safety Concerns:
Power Outages: There are no widespread power outages reported in relation to this fire.
Water Safety: No specific water safety concerns have been reported.
Burn Bans: At this time, there is no official burn ban in effect for Dixie County, though residents are urged to exercise extreme caution.
Air Quality: Dixie County Fire Rescue has issued a public advisory noting that residents may experience heavy smoke in the area while crews are working. Residents, especially those with respiratory conditions, are advised to avoid the area and stay indoors if smoke becomes heavy.

Ongoing Outlook

Containment Projections: Firefighters continue working aggressively to contain the fire and protect nearby areas. Containment lines are holding well, keeping the fire securely within its established perimeter. Crews are actively conducting extensive mop-up operations, utilizing bulldozers and fixed-wing flyovers to identify and extinguish remaining hotspots. Authorities expect to monitor the area closely over the coming days to ensure full containment and prevent any reignition.
Weather and Wind Warnings: Meteorologists note that Dixie County and much of Southwest Florida are under a moderate risk of fire danger due to breezy winds, dry air, and low humidity. While there are no active Red Flag Warnings reported for the immediate area, responders remain vigilant as Florida's dry spring climate can cause brush fires to spread rapidly.

Cause and the Role of Weather and Climate

Cause: The cause of the HWY 351- DIXIE Fire is currently under investigation.
Weather and Climate: The fire is being fueled by Florida's dry spring climate, characterized by breezy winds, dry air, and low humidity. These conditions have created an elevated fire danger across the region, exacerbating the fire's initial spread through dry vegetation and southern rough.

For more information, visit:

• Florida Forest Service Current Wildfires
• Dixie County Emergency Management
• Florida Disaster Evacuation Orders