Arson Blamed In 320 Of Florida’s Wildfires

TALLAHASSEE, FL — As more than 125 wildfires burned across Florida on Tuesday, state officials were working to raise awareness about arson. Since the year began, arson has been blamed in an estimated 320 of the blazes that have helped make 2017 one of the worst wildfire seasons in years.

“Severe drought conditions have increased wildfire danger throughout the state, and unfortunately, man-made fires rank among the top causes of wildfires,” Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Commissioner Adam H. Putnam said in a statement. “With the help of Floridians, we can stop arsonists and protect life, property and wildlife in Florida.”

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

Putnam’s office, which oversees the Florida Forest Service, reports that the estimated 320 wildfires traced to arson have burned more than 20,000 acres since 2017 began. In 2016, the state reported nearly 400 wildfires were sparked by arsonists.

“Everyone loses when arsonists strike,” State Forester James R. Karels said in a statement. “This serious crime not only threatens homes, property and valuable natural resources, but also places the lives of Floridians and our first responders at risk. The state will not tolerate anyone who purposefully endangers Floridians or our visitors by engaging in these activities.”

As of 7:30 a.m. May 9, the state reported there were 125 active wildfires burning on an estimated 31,424 acres on lands under its jurisdiction. Twenty-seven of those fires were deemed major, spanning 100 acres or more. The major blazes include the Anclote Branch wildfire in Pasco County where 2,275 acres in the Starkey Preserve have burned since the weekend. Four wildfires were also reported on federal lands within Florida, spanning more than 157,000 acres.

To see active wildfires reported to the state as of Tuesday morning, check out the graphic below:

The week of May 7-13 is Arson Awareness Week. The state is urging residents who see suspicious wildfire activity to report it to the Arson Alert Hotline by calling 1-800-343-5869. Callers do remain anonymous and may be eligible for a reward of up to $5,000.

As dry conditions continue, the National Weather Service is warning that critical fire weather conditions are likely to linger through the week at least. Rain does not play a role in Tampa Bay’s forecast until Saturday at the earliest. Burn bans remain in place in most counties in the Tampa Bay area.

Photo courtesy of Hernando County/Graphic courtesy of the Florida Forest Service