SWFD contains brush fire in Point Washington subdivision; two homes charred (UPDATED with PHOTOS and VIDEO)

8:30 p.m. UPDATE:

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), South Walton Fire District and several other agencies contained a fire in the Point Washington community shortly after 2:20 p.m. today.

The fire was located in an approximate 10 acre area near residences at the intersection of Greenbriar Lane and Silver Leaf Lane. WCSO deputies checked dozens of homes for damage and evacuated approximately 50 people from the area.

Although at least two homes were damaged, none were destroyed.

Roadways in the area are now open.

6:15 p.m. UPDATE:

On the corner of Dawson Street and Greenbriar Lane, families and pets waited anxiously as firefighters from across the area joined together to fight a large brush fire in Santa Rosa Beach.

At approximately 2:20 p.m., firefighters from South Walton received a call about a possible fire in the Point Washington area according to Mike Morrison, public information officer for the Walton County Sheriff’s Office.

“We responded immediately,” said Morrison. “The South Walton Fire Department was the first to respond.”

To see more photos from the scene, click here.

The air was filled with ash and debris from the fire that has burned about 10 acres of land around the bayou and surrounding subdivision area.

Emergency responders from Freeport, Panama City Beach, the Okaloosa County Task force including Eglin AFB, Niceville and Okaloosa Island were also on the scene.

The South Walton Sheriff’s Office also assisted with evacuating homes. About 50 residents were evacuated and dozens of homes were checked.

Deputy Chief Sean Hughes of the South Walton Fire District said that because of the marsh they had no access to the blaze.

While a helicopter circled overhead spotting the fire, the Division of Forestry used their brush trucks to create fire lanes through the swampy area to reach the blaze.

“Presently we do have the focal area contained, but we still have some small fires popping up which are quickly being contained,” Morrison told The Log. “No homes have been destroyed, but at least two have been damaged.”

The origin of the fire is still unknown and will be under investigation by the fire department.

UPDATE: 4:15 p.m.

This update is courtesy of reporter Katy Houghton who is on scene.

Between 1:30 and 2 p.m., firefigthers were called to the scene of a large brush fire that is currently threatening homes in the Point Washington subdivision, according to South Walton Fire Control District's Sean Hughes.

As of 4:15 p.m., none of the houses in the area have caught fire, but Hughes told reporters that the ground is burning around and under some of the homes.

Houghton reported that the fire originally started across from a marsh near the subdivision. She also said that firefighters are currently having problems getting to the fire, due to the location of the marsh.

Personel on the scene said the fire has already consumed some sheds, docks and outhouses in the area.

Crews have been fighting the blaze for two hours, and are currently waiting for relief to come in and give them a break.

Check back for updates as they come in.

This update is courtesy of the Northwest Florida Daily News:

POINT WASHINGTON -- Firefighters are extinguishing hot spots from a brush fire that ignited two homes in a Point Washington neighborhood.

The fire affected 20 acres of residential neigborhood, according to Assistant

A mandatory evacuation is in place for residents living on East Mitchell Avenue, Greenbriar Lane and Silver Leaf Lane.

Roadways in the area will be closed while firefighters and Walton County Sheriff deputies work the scene.

No injuries have been reported.

Stay logged on for updates.

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POINT WASHINGTON -- Firefighters are extinguishing hot spots from a brush fire that ignited two homes in a Point Washington neighborhood Friday afternoon.

The fire affected 20 acres of residential neigborhood, according to South Walton Assistant Fire Chief Mike Anderson.

Anderson said the impacted area is marshy and has made fighting the fire difficult.

Firefighters from Okaloosa County, Walton County and Panama City are supporting the South Walton Fire Department in what Anderson called "a significant fire."

The cause of the fire is unknown at this time, he said.

The Florida Division of Forestry will be investigating the fire.

A mandatory evacuation is still in place for residents living on East Mitchell Avenue, Greenbriar Lane and Silver Leaf Lane.

Roadways in the area will be closed while firefighters and Walton County Sheriff deputies work the scene.

No injuries have been reported.

Here is the original relase from the Walton County Sheriff's Office:

The Walton County Sheriff’s Office is currently on scene to assist the South Walton Fire District in the evacuation of residences in and around the area of Greenbriar Lane and Silver Leaf Lane in the Point Washington community.

Roadways in the immediate area will be closed while WCSO deputies and firefighters secure the area.

The Sun has a reporter and a photographer on the way to the scene, check back for more details.