Florida Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson is warning residents that the upcoming wildfire season could be especially dangerous due to persistently dry conditions across the state.
Officials say firefighters have already responded to significantly more fires this year. The Florida Forest Service has handled about 3,100 fires so far, compared to roughly 2,000 at the same point last year — a 50% increase.
“This is the driest winter I can remember in quite a while,” said Rick Dolan, director of the Florida Forest Service. “We expected the increase, but the conditions are especially concerning.”
Simpson stopped in Valrico on Friday to urge Floridians to take personal responsibility as fire risks rise. He stressed that many wildfires start from preventable human activities, such as backyard burns or campfires.
“We need everyone to be diligent as we head into the new year with these drier conditions,” Simpson said. “We’re ready, but we want people to do their part.”
To prepare, the Florida Forest Service has expanded its firefighting resources. Over the past three years, the agency added more than 100 bulldozers, increased its helicopter fleet from one to ten, and deployed drones to monitor fire activity. Crews are also cutting fire lines around schools, infrastructure, and other critical areas.
Rapid population growth has made wildfire response more challenging, as fires increasingly threaten homes and subdivisions. As a result, prescribed burns have become more important. Florida has conducted about 2 million acres of prescribed burns — roughly one-fifth of all such burns nationwide.
“Years ago, we rarely encountered homes while fighting fires,” Dolan said. “Now, almost every fire involves some form of wildland-urban interface.”
Despite the rising number of wildfires, officials point to last year’s outcome as encouraging. Only two homes were lost in 2024, and authorities hope to avoid any losses this year.
The Florida Forest Service urges residents planning to burn yard debris or trash to check for local burn bans before lighting any fires.
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