So Far, 126,000 Acres Burned Across Florida This Fire Season
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam has described this year as the most active fire season since 2011. As of Thursday, 97 active fires burned statewide, with 28 active wildfires larger than 100 acres, according to a Florida Today report (http://on.flatoday.com/2p7NKT9 ).
Smoke from some fires has forced Florida Highway Patrol troopers to close major highways for hours at a time. Health officials have recommended that people with asthma or chronic lung or heart conditions should stay indoors with windows closed to avoid smoke from blazes near them.
Gov. Rick Scott has declared a state of emergency because of active wildfires across the state. He also directed the Florida National Guard to put a UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter on standby for potential firefighting missions in Tampa. The aircraft would support the Florida Forest Service and collect and dispense large quantities of water onto fires without having to land.
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Forecasters predict Florida's weather will be hotter and dryer than normal in the coming months, with dry conditions extending into June. When the rainy does finally begin, it will bring storms with lightning, another leading cause of brush fires. "This is definitely the most active season we've seen in several years," said Susan Lindenmuth, a spokeswoman for the Estero fire district. "Our average heavy wildfire season is in April, May. We're just in the very beginning of it."
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http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/environment/os-ap-florida-wildfires-20170416-story.html
