Wildfire Awareness Week; Local Weather Report

The state of Florida experiences more than 4,000 wildfires each year.

This year alone the state has already faced over 1,000 wildfires on 20,430 acres.

And Tampa Bay is home to many of these blazes. In May of 2012, crews battled wildfire blazes in Brooker Creek Preserve.

Wildfire Awareness Week is from April 8-12 and is a time the Florida Department of Emergency Management and National Fire Protection Association hope to educate the public on how to protect themselves from the dangers of wildfires and how to prevent them.

"Wildfires can occur year round in Florida," Bryan Koon, Florida Division of Emergency Management Director. "Have a current emergency plan and be proactive in your efforts to keep your home and family safe during a fire emergency by taking necessary precautions."

The three leading causes of wildfires are arson, yard debris, trash fires and lighting.

The Brooker Creek Preserve fire in May was said to have been started by lighting striking.

The National Fire Protection Association’s Firewise program encourages homeowners to use the following prevention measures to decrease wildfires. 

• Planting fire-resistant vegetation
• Trim trees to a height of 15 feet near structures
• Clear brush up to 30 feet around your home
• Keep roof gutters free of debris

The weather also plays a large role in wildfire prevalence. More rain equals less fires. This weekend will be a rainy one in New Port Richey, where 50 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms is predicted Friday-Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. Temperatures will remain in the low to mid-80s with the high 60s and low 70s at night.