Florida On Fire: Blaze Locations, Burn Bans

TALLAHASSEE, FL — A total of 105 active wildfires, spanning some 17,092 acres, were reported across the state of Florida Wednesday morning. Of those fires, 26 were considered major, covering more than 100 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service.

The state’s active wildfires map showed major blazes in counties up and down both coasts. Only the Panhandle and extreme South Florida were free from larger wildfires one day after Gov. Rick Scottdeclared a state of emergency. Scott’s Tuesday declaration was made as more than 100 fires sparked across the state on April 11, covering some 20,000 acres.

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Scott’s declaration came on the heels of several high-profile wildfires in the Tampa Bay area. Last week, a brushfire along Interstate 275 in the Gandy Boulevard area closed roads for hours, snarling traffic in Pinellas County. More than 1,100 acres of land have burned in Hernando County over the past few days while concerns related to wildfires in Pasco County linger.

“Much of Central and South Florida are approaching drought-like conditions and the chances for wildfires are continuing to increase with hotter temperatures and low rainfall,” Scott said in making Tuesday’s declaration. “This may only get worse as we enter the hotter summer months and it is crucial that we take every action right now to be prepared.”

As of Wednesday, forecasters at the National Weather Service predicted the dry streak in the Tampa Bay area and Central Florida to continue through the weekend at least. The Miami area, where major fires were not burning on Wednesday, was forecast to see a fair amount of rain over the next few days.

With wildfires a concern across large swaths of 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 Wednesday morning, according to the Florida Forest Service, were:

• Nassau
• Hernando
• Polk
• Seminole
• Osceola
• Brevard
• Okeechobee
• Glades
• Hendry

Pasco County commissioners voted on Wednesday to institute a burn ban in that county. Pasco has been especially hard hit in recent days with three wildfires creating concerns and prompting the closing of a major park.

To see the locations of the active wildfires reported to the state as of 7:30 a.m. April 12, check out the graphic below:

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

Photo courtesy of the Hernando County Fire Rescue Facebook page