Florida urges preparations for wildfires

Share
Firefighters Put Out A Fire In The Forest
Firefighters putting out a forest fire. By Cristian Martin via iStock/Getty Images for WMNF News.

©2024 The News Service of Florida

Florida had a wetter winter than last year, but state officials are advising people to prepare for drier conditions that will increase the chance of wildfires.

The Division of Emergency Management lists the current threat of wildfires across the state as “low,” but Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson said Wednesday that people should limit debris on their properties as wildfire season begins.

“Prepare your home regularly by clearing your roof and gutters or prepare your yard by creating and maintaining a defensible space around your home,”

Simpson said during an appearance at the Florida Forest Service Valrico Forestry Station in Dover.

Last year, with limited rainfall, dry brush and downed trees from Hurricane Ian, Florida recorded more than 2,650 wildfires that burned nearly 101,200 acres.

Drought conditions required several counties to issue burning bans and prohibit burning yard debris.

Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan said that through Sunday, his agency had responded to 518 fires that affected 8,190 acres this year.

The state had “significant” fires during the past week in Pensacola and Martin County, Dolan said.

A rainy winter allowed the agency to conduct prescribed burns that reduce kindling that feeds wildfires.

“The weather service is not predicting an abnormally dry spring, just a little bit drier than normal,” Dolan said. “Again, we’re going into the spring with a fair amount of moisture in the woods, and that’s good for us.”

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

You may also like

Genetics and Your Health

MidPoint explored genetics testing and the challenges of receiving a...

The Scoop: Thurs. Nov. 21st, 2024, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

Stay updated on the St. Petersburg city leaders' vote on...

City of Zephyrhills and FEMA will hold a hurricane assistance meeting Friday

There will be a town hall-style meeting in Zephyrhills regarding...

Florida Capitol
Here are the 2025-26 Florida Senate committee leaders

Senate President, Republican Ben Albritton, named lawmakers who will lead...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Follow us on Instagram

It's The Music Thursday
Player position: