Latest news with #FloridaForestryService
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
PHOTOS: Brush fire at Alafia River State Park
HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — Three brush fires swept through Alafia River State Park on Sunday. Officials said the fires were likely caused by lightning strikes in the area, and the fires spread over a few hundred acres of the park. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue and the Florida Forestry Service responded to the fire, which covered around 400 acres before it was contained. HCFR said no injuries were reported and no structures were at risk, though residents may smell lingering smoke. Have photos or video you want to share? Submit them through WFLA Report It Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Central Florida vulnerable to wildfires as drought conditions fuel risk
The Brief Wildfires flared across Brevard County on Wednesday, with two contained in Palm Bay and a 200-acre blaze still burning in "The Compound." Drought conditions and dry weather have fueled at least five recent fires, prompting a region-wide burn ban. Officials urge residents near wooded areas to prepare, warning that Florida's wildfire season is intensifying. PALM BAY, Fla. - Drought conditions and dry weather have fueled at least five recent fires, prompting a region-wide burn ban. What we know Several wildfires erupted across Brevard County on Wednesday, including multiple brush fires in Palm Bay that came dangerously close to homes. Dramatic video footage showed flames just feet from residential properties, triggering temporary evacuation orders and blanketing parts of the city in thick smoke. By late Wednesday afternoon, two of the fires in Palm Bay were reported as contained. Another fire, located in an area known as "The Compound," continued to burn but was being allowed to move westward into undeveloped swamp land, where it posed no immediate threat to homes or structures. In the last week alone, at least five wildfires have ignited across the county, affecting areas including Cocoa, Viera, and Palm Bay. What we don't know Authorities have not yet released the specific causes of the fires reported on Wednesday. It remains unclear how many acres have burned in total across Brevard County this week, aside from the 200-acre fire in "The Compound." While no new evacuation orders are currently in place, it is also uncertain how long conditions will remain favorable for additional flare-ups or how long existing fires will take to burn out. The backstory This spike in fire activity comes amid worsening drought conditions across Central Florida. The entire region is currently under a burn ban, prohibiting outdoor burning in an effort to prevent further wildfires. Officials say the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, a key measure of fire risk, has been climbing due to prolonged dry and hot weather. Florida is in the midst of a particularly active wildfire season, driven by those extreme weather patterns and the increasing presence of homes in fire-prone areas. Big picture view The fires reflect a growing challenge for emergency services in Florida, where the expansion of development into rural and wooded areas—known as the wildland-urban interface—has created higher risk for both residents and first responders. Officials stress that individual preparedness is now critical. Many residents live in areas where brush and forested land border residential neighborhoods, increasing the likelihood of homes being threatened by wildfires. What they're saying "It just gives me chills — I'm so mind boggled that it's so close," said Joseph Cortez, a Palm Bay resident. "All around U.S. 1 it was smoking everywhere you could see it." Cliff Frazier, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forestry Service, warned of worsening conditions: "It's really ramping up and we are anticipating it to become even more active." He urged residents to take proactive measures: "If you live out in the wildland urban interface, it's time to prepare now before the wildfire gets there. There's no need to prepare when the wildfire gets there — because then it's too late." Let me know if you want a summarized version or need this formatted as a full AP-style article. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local:Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source This story was written based on information shared by Palm Bay Fire Rescue, Brevard County Fire Rescue, and the Florida Forest Service.
Yahoo
15-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lee becomes latest SW Florida county to enact burn ban. What that means for locals
Lee County has joined rest of Southwest Florida by enacting a burn ban. Conditions here are drought-like, and the rainy season is at least a month away. Collier, Charlotte, Glades and Hendry Counties have had burn bans in places for up to several weeks. Lee became the first county this year to reach the 600-mark on the Florida Forestry Service's Keetch Bryam Drought Index, which ranges from 0 for saturated conditions to 800 for especially dry times. "The county's ordinance bans 'outdoor burning ignition sources, including campfires, bonfires and trash burning," a press release from the county reads. "Grills for food are not included. Officials ask all county residents to be mindful of dry conditions and to use good judgment to mitigate potential for significant wildfires." Wildfire season here runs from April to June, and all of south Florida is at 500 or above on the Keetch Byram Drought Index. The eastern halves of Collier and Hendry counties are under a severe drought, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA. Lee, Charlotte and Glades are experiencing moderate drought, NOAA says. More: Sharp claws, teeth and whip-like tails: Iguanas fight back when necessary. What to know NOAA is also forecasting equal chances of above-average or below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures over the next three months. There is no significant chance of rain over the next for the Fort Myers-Naples area, according to the National Weather Service. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: With drought index raging, Lee County issues local burn ban
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Dry, warm conditions expected through mid-May, start of next summer rainy season
Record rains fell Monday in the Fort Myers area, which helped because the city was about an inch-and-a-half low on rain for the month. Southwest Florida has reached the midway point in the dry season, which runs from October through May. And like its namesake, this season has been dry, with Fort Myers being almost 2 inches behind on rain for the calendar year. "The 1.56 inches that fell Monday in Fort Myers broke the record of 1.33 inches of rain that fell on that same date in 1992," said Rodney Wynn, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. "That was not the highest for a single day in February but the highest for that date." Otherwise, the Fort Myers area saw 0.14 inches of rain this month, Wynn said. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Southwest Florida as being abnormally dry in some areas and in a moderate drought in others. Collier County is among the driest counties in the state, according to the Florida Forestry Service's Keetch Byram Drought Index. The county scored between 500 and 549 on a scale that ranges from 0 for super wet conditions to 800 for crispy times. Lee is a little wetter, with a drought value of 450 to 499. March, April and May tend to the be some of the more dangerous months when it comes to wildfires, although the right conditions can allow land managers to conduct much-needed prescribed burns. Florida's ecology evolved with fire as a constant threat, with much of the state burning for months at a time, historic records show. This spring is expected to be a continuation of the warm, dry conditions that been near-constant this dry season. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, is calling for below-average rainfall and above-average temperatures between now and the start of the rainy season on May 15. May 15 is the historical average day for the start of the summer rainy patterns. More: How will Florida's panther thrive in the face of chronic wasting disease? "For the next three months we're looking at above-average temperatures," Wynn said. "We may see one or two more rounds of cooler weather, but most of the weather with lows in the 40s is probably over with." Wynn said rain will be scarce the next few weeks, with the next strong possibility of precipitation coming Wednesday. "The next rain will be Wednesday next week so we're looking good, and we're getting into that transition season," Wynn said. "We'll have a couple of weak fronts move through this week and then again Sunday, but we won't see much in the way of rain or temperature deviation." This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Record rains Monday account for nearly all rain that fell in February
