Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Expect busy season for wildfires

State faces busy wildfire season, experts warn

By JENNIFER LIBERTO
Published April 5, 2006

A giant map of Florida stood behind Gov. Jeb Bush, displaying the worries of state meteorologists and foresters who warned the governor in a Tuesday meeting that the state faces a busy wildfire season.

Long, jagged red lines marked the paths of 10 hurricanes that downed trees and cut limbs over the past two years, leaving hundreds of thousands of acres of firewood scattered across the state.

This spring the state is expecting as little rainfall as in 2000, a dry year which fell in the middle of the 1998-2001 drought. To prepare, the state is kicking off an awareness campaign to prevent man-made fires, which trigger more than half of the state's wildfires.

"We've only just put a dent in the amount of fuel (wood and debris) that's still out there," said Michael Lang, the state forester who heads the division of forestry.

On Tuesday, 61 active fires burned across 3,700 acres in the state. This year, 1,539 fires have burned so far, compared with about 1,900 fires at the same time in 2000. Thirty-four of those fires were significant, meaning at least 100 acres burned.

Last month, a brushfire swept through 500 acres near Sebring. Two more fires consumed 900 acres in Polk County. And in the Panhandle, flames raced to within 20 feet of homes in the Holley-Navarre area east of Pensacola.

Fires have closed parts of I-10, I-75 and the turnpike this year.

Forestry leaders say the No. 1 thing Floridians can do to prevent wildfires is to keep an eye on outdoor fires, like burning brush in the back yard.

Also, residents should watch for fires when using chain saws or blow torches outside. Shredded pieces of hot tires can ignite fires. They also urged residents to report arsonists.

State meteorologists are expecting the rainfall to return this summer, but until then officials are worried about fires, especially in May, when lightning season begins.

[Last modified April 5, 2006, 06:20:52]