SEBASTIAN — A drought is gripping much of Florida ahead of the usual dry season, and with it, wildfires are popping up; a couple have already burned parts of Indian River County this month, state officials warned.
The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to respect county burn bans with the lingering dry conditions, as it only takes one spark for a fast-moving fire to threaten homes and lives.
“The state’s dry season has arrived even earlier than expected, and any fire that starts during these conditions – including drought, high winds, and low humidity – could quickly get out of control and be a danger to property or lives,” the service said in a statement.
And since Jan. 1, firefighters have been fighting more than 650 wildfires around the state that have collectively burned more than 21,000 acres. To combat the problem, 34 counties have issued burn bans, which ban activities such as campfires and bonfires, yard waste burning and open flames over vegetation in general; authorized outdoor burns are not affected.
Officials advised simple measures to avoid accidentally igniting grass fires: Do not throw cigarette butts from vehicles, stay away from parking or driving on dry grass where hot exhaust pipes could cause sparks, and properly secure trailer chains and hitches so that they do not drag on the road and produce friction.
The warnings arrive as Florida’s traditional dry season, which typically gets underway in the spring, has descended early, ramping up attention from forestry crews paying close attention to hot spots.