Tuesday morning, the Florida Forest Service (FFS) announced there were nearly 160 wildfires burning some 33,600 acres throughout Florida. FFS wildland firefighters and resources from numerous fire and emergency service departments have been working around the clock to help suppression efforts.
This includes the Chipola Complex, which encompasses three wildfires that have grown to over 29,200 acres. This is all due to dry, windy conditions. The weather forecast is calling for the possibility of rain and lighter winds, but FFS notes it will not be enough to decrease the wildfire threat any time soon, especially in the areas that were impacted by Hurricane Michael.
As Rod Bain reports, wildfire activity in the Sunshine State serves as a reminder of drier than normal conditions and the potential of Spring wildfire activity in much of the nation’s Southern tier.
It is important for residents to use extreme caution and remain aware of current wildfire activity. To view active wildfires, visit FDACS.gov/ActiveWildfirePoints. To learn how to prevent and prepare for a wildfire, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.