OKALOOSA ISLAND —Okaloosa County officials and Okaloosa Island firefighters are keeping an eye on a measure to give firefighters better access to the beach behind the Gulfarium.
Beach erosion coupled with a pipe used by the Gulfarium for its exhibits had made the beach behind the marine park impassable to firefighters during high tide and high surf, according to Fire Chief Robert Tilley.
Firefighters use a Ford F-150 pickup truck when they respond to beach calls, Tilley said. If firefighters responding to a swimmer in distress on one side of the pipe were called to an emergency on the other side, they had to get back out on U.S. Highway 98 rather than simply drive down the breach.
“It would put a slight delay on the response,” Tilley said.
The erosion on the beach is the main issue, but the Gulfarium’s pipe that was emptying water onto the sand made the problem worse, Tilley said.
However, the Gulfarium recently lengthened the pipe by 20 feet. That seems to have helped, at least during normal weather, said Tracey Vause, Okaloosa County’s beach safety chief.
“As long as it provides us a way to traverse the area and make rescues, we’re happy,” Vause said.
County engineers called it a “reasonable solution,” Vause said. Beach safety officials and firefighters will keep an eye on the area to see what happens during more serious conditions.
Beach erosion is a problem for the entire length of Okaloosa Island, Vause said. Severe weather and structures contribute to it.
“There are a handful of choke points on the beach that are challenges,” Vause said. “It doesn’t keep us from getting there in several different spots.”
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Lauren Delgado at 850-315-4445 or ldelgado@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @LaurenDnwfdn.