Wildfires increase around Florida as drought conditions worsen. Where they are, what to know
After a brief downward trend earlier in the week, the numbers have been climbing. Friday morning, April 4, there were 49 fires, up from 44 on Thursday, according to the Florida Forest Service. More than 28,000 acres have been affected.
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The 344 Fire in South Florida is finally 100 percent contained, after closing the limited number of roads to the Florida Keys and burning almost 27,000 acres since mid-March.
The average statewide drought index increased Thursday to 313 to 303, with the driest conditions continuing across South and Southwest Florida.
Highlights of some of the wildfires burning in Florida Friday morning:
344 Fire: Miami-Dade County. Burned 26,719 acres. 100% contained.
Wiggins Fire: Collier County. Burned 250 acres. 50% contained.
Red Horse Fire: Polk County. Burned 390 acres. 95% contained.
Pretty Pine Fire: Polk County. Burned 125 acres. 90% contained.
"Wildfire names are generally based on the geographic location of the fire or a nearby geographic feature," according to Tim Brown, communications manager with the Florida Forest Service in an email.
"For example, the '344 Fire' was due to its location near 344 Street."
"Well-above normal high temperatures" can be expected each afternoon into Saturday, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
"With the help of high pressure and dry conditions, high temperatures will reach the middle to upper 80s and lower 90s each afternoon. Typically, across North Florida, these are not temperatures we see for at least another three to four weeks on average, so there is a chance for record-breaking temperatures."
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index average for Florida jumped to 324 Thursday, up from 313 Wednesday. The drought index uses a scale from 0, which is very wet, to 800, which is very dry.
As of Thursday, April 3, there were 13 Florida counties with a mean Keetch-Byram Drought Index over 500, which means drought or increased fire danger.
Broward: 570
Charlotte: 536
Collier: 576
Glades: 523
Hardee: 532
Hendry: 569
Lake: 505
Lee: 575
Manatee: 528
Miami-Dade: 526
Monroe: 525
Palm Beach: 555
Sarasota: 525
Another 14 of Florida's 67 counties have index numbers in the 400s.
Windy conditions, the lack of rain and relative humidity will combine to increase the potential for "locally elevated wildfire conditions" heading into the weekend, according to the Florida Department of Emergency Management.
According to the Florida Forest Service, burn bans are in place for the following counties:
Charlotte
Collier
Glades
Hendry
Highlands
Lake
Sarasota
The open burning of yard debris is always prohibited in these counties:
Duval
Hillsborough
Orange
Pinellas
Pensacola, Panhandle: Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph, according to the National Weather Service Mobile.
Tallahassee: Today will be rather toasty with highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s for most, according to the National Weather Service Tallahassee. Beaches will remain dangerous with rough surf and potentially deadly rip currents!
Jacksonville, North Florida: Mostly sunny, with a high near 87. Breezy, with a south wind 5 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 23 mph, according to the National Weather Service Jacksonville.
East central Florida: Above-normal temperatures continue. Winds not quite as strong as yesterday, but gusty conditions are still expected again in the late morning and afternoon, especially along the coast after the sea breeze develops. A high risk of life-threatening rip currents continues, according to the National Weather Service Melbourne.
South Florida: Mostly sunny, with a high near 80. Breezy, with a southeast wind 18 to 20 mph, according to the National Weather Service Miami. Hazardous marine and beach conditions continue across Atlantic waters and east coast beaches.
Southwest Florida: The warm and humid conditions continue today, with afternoon high temperatures expected to approach record levels each day through Monday, according to the National Weather Service Tampa Bay.
We will continue to update our weather coverage as conditions warrant. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Florida brush fires burn almost 28,000 acres. See map
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