During the most critical period, during the first week of July, the flames were threatening to sweep into dozens of populated coastal communities along a front more than 100 miles wide, from Brevard County to Flagler County. The total population of the areas in the potential path of these fires was more than 500,000 including the Daytona Beach metropolitan area in Volusia County, a series of adjoining communities that stretches approximately 20 miles from Ormond Beach to Port Orange.
In addition to the year-round residents of this area, an estimated 200,000 visitors were expected in the area over the 4th of July weekend to attend a NASCAR race at Daytona International Speedway. The race track is on the western edge of the city, which was directly in the path of the approaching fires. On July 1st and 2nd the flames were threatening structures within a mile of the Speedway and all nearby residents were evacuated. A decision was made on July 2nd to cancel the race and to advise all of the expected visitors to stay away from the Daytona Beach area. The race was rescheduled for a date in October.
When the flare-up occurred on July 1st, the fire departments in Ormond Beach, Daytona Beach and several other communities identified the areas that were in danger and worked with their emergency management agencies to order mandatory evacuations. Approximately 15,000 residents were evacuated ahead of the advancing flames. Many of these residents were accommodated in temporary shelters, which were located in safe areas, while most left the area in their own vehicles and found refuge elsewhere.
To the north of Daytona Beach, another group of major fires was burning in Flagler County. Approximately 50 structures were lost in the large unincorporated community of Palm Coast on the afternoon and evening of July 2nd when the wind pushed the flames and burning embers into populated areas. The following morning reconnaissance reports indicated that these fires had the potential to join together a create a giant firestorm. If this had occurred, it could have wiped out Palm Coast, the town of Bunnell and several similar communities. A decision was made to evacuate the entire population of Flagler County, more than 45,000 residents, in the face of this threat.
The major roads through Flagler County, Interstate 95, US1 and Florida A1A, all run north and south, parallel to the coast and within a few miles of the Atlantic Ocean. The evacuation required all of the residents to use these roads to travel either north, into St. Johns County, or south into Volusia and Brevard counties, all of which were also at a high risk. The evacuees were directed through these counties to either Jacksonville to the north or the Orlando area to the southwest to get them out of the endangered area. These residents were unable to return to their homes for four days.
The smoke and flames caused a 125 mile stretch of Interstate 95, the major eastcoast transportation artery, and several other major highways to be shut down for several days. Several different fires crossed I-95 in different locations as the fires moved to the east. This caused a huge backed-up of traffic north and south of the area.
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