On Tuesday, as the legislature prepared to kick-off a preplanned “Wildfire Awareness Week,” Governor Rick Scott issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency across Florida due to the increased number of wildfires, according to News4.Jax.
There are presently over 100 wildfires burning across the state, with over a quarter of them over 100 acres in size, according to the Florida Forest Service. Since February, over 68,000 acres have gone up in flames.
In signing the emergency order, Governor Scott said, “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. 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.”
“It is incredibly important that wildfire response is swift and deliberate and this state of emergency will make it easier for our state, regional and local agencies to quickly work together to protect our families, visitors, and communities.”
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On April 4, about 42 percent of the state was under drought conditions, with the worst conditions centering in southwest Florida where Naples has a rainfall deficit of more than 8 inches since Nov. 1, 2016. This has been the most active fire season since 2011.
Since the start of this year, the Forest Service has recorded just a little over 1,140 wildfires, burning double the number of acres burned at this time last year. “There is no corner of the state that is not facing severe wildfire conditions,” Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said.
Even though wildfires can occur at any time during the year, late winter and the early spring months are the most active period for them in Florida. Generally, as the air becomes more humid, bringing on afternoon thunder showers later in the spring and on into the summer months, the wildfires risk subsides, according to Weather.com.
