With increasingly dry conditions, the Florida Forest Service wants the public to aware of wildfire danger.
In the last three weeks, dry conditions have sparked wildfires across the state—threatening at least 20 homes. And, with no rain forecast until late next week, Florida Forest Officials expect even more wildfires.
“And, that extends into the Florida Panhandle and Big Bend area into the Suwannee River to the west and as you go farther west from the Suwannee River, it gets progressively drier,” said John Fish, the Fire Chief at the Florida Forest Service.
Fish says 80 percent of Florida wildfires are human caused. So, he cautions everyone to be safe when using fire outdoors—like camp fires and grills.
“And, it doesn’t take long when you turn your back for a moment on an outdoor fire—whether that be a recreational fire, a debris burning…whether you’re cleaning up your yard, yard waste—for it to get away and get out of your control,” he added.
Fish says residents should also prepare their home in advance of a wildfire.
“And, if folks can clean their gutters out, make sure that they’re using fire wise landscaping materials, things that don’t burn readily, and keeping limbs trimmed back from their house and creating a fire defensible space around their property,” he continued.
Fish says there are close to 30 active Florida wildfires, as of Tuesday afternoon.
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