Florida On Fire: Blaze Locations, Help Has Arrived

BRADENTON, FL — State and local firefighters battling the more than 120 active wildfires burning across Florida on Monday had a few extra pairs of hands to assist. Sixteen extra, to be exact, sent over the weekend courtesy of the South Carolina Forestry Commission.

The South Carolina fire crews arrived in Central Florida on Saturday. They didn’t come empty handed either, Darryl Jones, South Carolina’s forest protection chief, told Patch. Three firefighting bulldozer units and four wildland firefighting engines were also brought along. The firefighting engines are heavy-duty pickups that are equipped with water tanks and pumping systems, Jones said. Two strike team leaders were also deployed to help firefighters across Florida.

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Jones explained that South Carolina’s response is part of a 13-state agreement known as the Southeastern Forest Fire Protection Compact. The states in that compact agree to share resources if the need arises. Assets are frequently shared, he said. Last year, South Carolina, for example, “had a significant fire season,” requiring “firefighters from many states” to come to help, Jones said.

Returning the favor is something South Carolina is happy to do, he added.

“Florida is one of our partner states, with very similar terrain and fuel conditions,” Jones said. “Our firefighters are trained very similarly to how those in Florida are, and are very familiar with the fuels and expected fire behavior. We are always happy to help other states if we are not experiencing a lot of fires, and we know we can count on Florida to support us if we are in a similar situation.”

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam, whose agency oversees the Florida Forest Service, is grateful for the help.

“I thank the South Carolina Forestry Commission for providing this much-needed support as our firefighters continue to battle wildfires across the state,” Putnam said in a statement. “Conditions are forecast to get even drier and warmer into late spring and early summer, and Florida is going to need all the help we can get.”

As of 8 a.m. Monday, May 15, the Florida Forest Service reported there were 124 active wildfires burning on lands under its jurisdiction. Those fires combined covered an estimated 40,162 acres. Twenty-nine of the fire were deemed major, meaning they spanned 100 acres or more. Three fires were also burning on lands under federal jurisdiction in Florida. Those fires covered an estimated 175,613 acres.

To check out the location of the wildfires, review the graphic below provided by the Florida Forest Service:

As active wildfires remain burning across the state and rain chances are likely to remain low for a few more days at least, burn bans are in place in many counties. To see where bans on outdoor burning are in place, check out the state’s map below:

Forecasters at the National Weather Service say dry conditions are likely to persist through much of the week. Rain chances, however, return to the forecast late in the week and over the weekend.

For more information on wildfires, county burn bans and fire dangers, visit the state’s website.

Photo courtesy of Pasco County