Florida On Fire: More Counties Issue Burn Bans

TALLAHASSEE, FL — Nearly 29,500 acres of land across the Sunshine State were burning due to active wildfires on Monday morning, according to the Florida Forest Service. With 31 of those fires spanning more than 100 acres each, Florida remained under a declared state of emergency.

“Firefighters and first responders from all across the state have been fighting the wildfires in Southwest Florida day and night, and we are all incredibly grateful for their hard work,” Gov. Rick Scott said in a statement released Sunday. “I ask that if you know or see any firefighters and first responders in your communities that you take the time to thank them for bravely protecting our state.”

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As of Monday, the Florida Forest Service reported 115 active wildfires spanning a total 29,499 acres on lands under local and state jurisdiction. The 31 active wildfires deemed larger than 100 acres each accounted for 25,750 acres of the tally. Active wildfires were reported in many of Florida’s 67 counties, from the Panhandle south to the Miami area. Fires large and small were active in the Tampa Bay area, as well, including blazes in Polk and Pasco counties.

The state also reported that five wildfires were burning on 66,054 acres of federal land within the Sunshine State.

All told, wildfires have affected about 88,434 acres of land in Florida since the year began, the forest service reported Monday. Last week, the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services reported a significant uptick in the amount of damage wildfires have caused this year versus last. Commissioner Adam Putnam said the increase in damage represented a fourfold spike from the first few months of 2016.

As wildfire concerns linger across the state, several counties have banned outdoor burning entirely until further notice. Bans prohibit such things as the burning of yard debris, lighting campfires and using fireworks. Counties that had issued burn bans as of April 22, the last time the Florida Forest Service updated its list, were:

• Nassau
• Baker
• Levy
• Putnam
• Hernando
• Pasco
• Polk
• Sarasota
• Citrus
• Orange
• Seminole
• Lake
• Osceola
• Brevard
• Okeechobee
• Glades
• Hendry
• Highlands
• St. Lucie
• Palm Beach
• Collier

To see the locations of active wildfires reported to the state as of 8 a.m. April 24, check out the graphic below:

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

As of Monday, the National Weather Service's Ruskin office wasn't predicting significant rainfall for the Tampa Bay area in the coming week.

Photo courtesy of the Hernando County Fire Rescue Facebook page