Latest news with #ToddChlanda
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida Forest Service expects busy summer as experts predict prolonged dry season
The Brief Florida fire officials are working hard to prevent brush fires during peak drought season. This year's dry season is expected to last into the end of June or the beginning of July. Polk County is under a burn ban to minimize the risk of wildfires. POLK, Fla. - Firefighters and wildfire mitigation specialists are working hard to prevent brush fires from getting out of control as the state is in the midst of its peak drought season. The Florida Forest Service responded to a brush fire along the Polk Parkway on Wednesday afternoon. Why you should care "We responded with two tractor plow units and two brush trucks," said Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Todd Chlanda. Polk County Fire Rescue and the Auburndale Fire Department also responded. It took two hours to put out the four-acre fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though officials say it doesn't take much of a heat source to start a wildfire. READ: Polk County detention deputy accused of inappropriately touching a juvenile quits upon arrest "Whether that be somebody flicking a cigarette or an ember out their window as they are driving or pulling off to the side of the road to answer their phone or text message, the catalytic converter and muffler underneath a vehicle are enough to cause a fire in the grass in the dry conditions that we have," said Chlanda. Currently, Polk County is under a burn ban to minimize the risk of wildfires. Officials are prohibiting many types of outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires and burns of yard or construction debris. Violators could face fines and potential jail time. Big picture view Typically, the rainy season starts at the end of May or the beginning of June, but the Florida Forest Service predicts a much later start this year – the end of June or the beginning of July. So that means a prolonged dry season and a busy summer for the Florida Forest Service. "I just urge everybody to use extreme caution with any type of outdoor activity, whether it be barbecuing, driving, grinding or welding," said Chlanda. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source FOX 13's Carla Bayron collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘We are extremely dry': Fires persist amid burn ban in Polk County
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Fire crews are working across Polk County to keep small fires from becoming devastating ones amid a county-wide burn ban. 'We're a long way out from being out of the woods,' Todd Chlanda, the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for the Florida Forest Service, said. 'We need substantial, widespread rainfall over a number of days to get out of these drought-like conditions.' On Wednesday, a grass fire spread along Saddle Creek Road while, at the same time, there was a fire along the Polk Parkway at Winter Lake Road. Both those fires were contained without impacting structures. 2 Florida hikers die after falling from cliff face in Utah Highlands County issued a smoke advisory for areas of Lake Placid and South Sebring after a brush fire on Henscratch Road. 'It doesn't take long for dry conditions, windy conditions like we're having, for a fire to become a devastating wildfire within a matter of moments,' said Chlanda. Chlanda said it's been years since conditions have been this dry in Central Florida. 'We're starting to see the grass is turning brown. The leaves are crunchy. The vegetation is starting to droop. The trees are starting to droop from lack of moisture. Those are all tell-tale signs that we are extremely dry and people need to be very cautious doing anything outside,' said Chlanda. 'Operation Snow Storm' leads to 19 arrests in Pinellas County With a burn ban in effect in Polk County, people are not allowed to burn trash or debris, ignite fireworks or use campfires or bonfires, among other prohibited activities. 'It's any outdoor activity that causes a spark: welding, grinding,' Chlanda said. 'If you're going to be doing any of those types of activities, you're definitely going to want to make sure that you have a water source handy nearby and a phone, should it get out of control, that you can call 911.' The burn ban in Polk County went into effect on April 15 and will be repealed once conditions are deemed safe. Violators can be fined up to $500 and face jail time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
