Firefighting Planes Battling Wildfire Near St Augustine Florida

Video recorded by X user Gary Weissel reveals rare high-altitude aerial footage from 8,000 feet of active firefighting operations over a wildfire southwest of St. Augustine, Florida. The caption states: “Not something you see everyday especially from above. Caught this from FL080 fire fighting SW of St Augustine, FL this morning.”

The unsteady, handheld footage, filmed from the cockpit of a small aircraft, captures wide views of the landscape below as firefighting planes release bright red fire retardant in long, striking streams. Thick smoke rises from burning vegetation and scrubland, while the camera shifts to follow aircraft making repeated low-level passes over the fire line during the ongoing aerial response.

The video was filmed at approximately 12:00 p.m. EDT on April 20, 2026, during a period of intensified wildfire activity in northeast Florida, including St. Johns County and nearby areas. Red flag warnings and burn restrictions were in place at the time due to dry conditions and strong winds.

The footage quickly gained widespread attention, with multiple organizations obtaining permission from the filmmaker to broadcast the dramatic view of firefighting efforts from above.