As Los Angeles recovers from disastrous wildfires that killed 29 people and caused up to $53.8 billion in property damage, Florida enters the peak of its own wildfire season.
The year-round season historically crowns in April, May and June. Most of the state entered the months with below-average precipitation levels — and 2025 has already seen an uptick in blazes, including the “344 Fire” in South Florida that burned more than 25,000 acres in March. The National Interagency Fire Center has warned of above-normal potential for significant wildfires throughout much of Florida through June.
The Florida Forest Service helps detect, suppress and extinguish wildfires in the state. It also tries to reduce their size and intensity by mowing, conducting prescribed burns and chopping high wildfire risk areas.
2 million acres
Average number of Florida acres treated with prescribed burns annually to maintain the land and prevent future wildfires.
$600 million
Estimated loss from the 1998 “Florida Firestorm,” one of the biggest complexes of wildfires in Florida history. It scorched more than 500,000 acres and damaged more than 300 homes.
$269.3 million
Projected annual loss from wildfires in Florida, according to a January 2025 LendingTree study. The state ranked second in the nation after California.
Sources: Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services; Florida Building Resilience Against Climate Effects (BRACE) Program; LendingTree