March 29, 2024

News Release

Florida wildfires burn two-and-a-half times more acreage than same time last year

| 3/23/2017

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam announced that Florida wildfires have burned 250 percent more acreage during the first three months of 2017 than last year during the same time period. More than 1,000 wildfires have burned more than 46,000 acres, which is an increase from approximately 700 wildfires that burned 12,900 acres during the first three months of 2016. Commissioner Putnam and the Florida Forest Service urge the public to use extreme caution when handling outdoor fires and heat sources as dry conditions are forecast to continue throughout the next few months.

“I applaud our wildland firefighters for their unwavering dedication to safeguarding our citizens, property and wildlife,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “Floridians can do their part by taking the appropriate precautions to prevent human-caused wildfires.”

This past week, the Florida Forest Service responded to 133 new wildfires that impacted several Florida communities and burned nearly 10,500 acres. Recent fires in Orange and Miami-Dade counties significantly impacted the area and destroyed one home. To see the locations of all active wildfires in Florida, download the “FLBurnTools” app in Apple's App Store or on Google Play.

“When exercising caution, our residents and visitors play a critical role in protecting not only Florida's wildlife and natural habitats, but the lives of our wildland firefighters and first responders,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester.

The Florida Forest Service urges residents to remember the following:

  • Develop and implement a family wildfire action plan;
  • Call 911 or a local Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire;
  • Obey Florida's outdoor burning laws;
  • Never burn on windy days;
  • Always keep a water source and suppression tools on hand when burning yard debris;
  • Never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended; and
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

For more information regarding what you can do, please contact your localFlorida Forest Service Mitigation Specialist.

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than one million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com.

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