Dry, windy conditions provide dangerous fuel for wildfires
Jennifer Holton reports
LITHIA, Fla. - It took fire crews hours last night to contain a fire that swelled to 125 acres Monday in southern Hillsborough County.
Tuesday, smoke blanketed a large portion of Balm Riverview Road – the aftermath of the blaze fueled by a stagnant forecast. We’ve had four or five days of strong winds, low humidity, and nice bright sun, said Florida Forestry Service’s Todd Chlanda.
That made it a perfect storm for what many refer to as Florida’s peak fire season.
Balm Riverview fire, courtesy HCFR
But Florida doesn’t technically even have a brushfire season. Chlanda explains why.
Wildfire season on the horizon as landscape continues to dry naplesnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from naplesnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Flames Contained After Hernando County Crews Battle Fast-Moving Brush Fires By Spectrum News Staff Hernando County UPDATED 8:14 PM ET Mar. 08, 2021 PUBLISHED 3:04 PM ET Mar. 08, 2021 PUBLISHED 3:04 PM EST Mar. 08, 2021
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UPDATE: The Florida Forest Service says the fires in Spring Hill have been 100% contained. About five acres were scorched, and the cause of the fire is unknown.
Florida Forest Service #Barclay Wildfire, Spring Hill, is 100% contained at this time, 5 acres, cause unknown. pic.twitter.com/5oNDxYXXTt FFS Withlacoochee (@FFS Withlacooch) March 8, 2021
ORIGINAL STORY:
SPRING HILL, Fla. - Hernando County fire crews are fighting several brush fires on Barclay and Lawrence in Spring Hill.
Published: March 5, 2021 2:35 PM EST
Updated: March 5, 2021 2:50 PM EST
A prescribed burn has been permitted for Friday by the Florida Forest Service in Lee County for a 40-acre area south of Corkscrew Road-in the same area as Thursday’s burn.
You may see or smell smoke, especially in the neighboring areas.
They advise anyone with asthma to stay indoors and away from the smoke. If anyone is experiencing asthmatic symptoms that cannot be controlled, that person should dial 911.
If the fire grows and is deemed “out-of-control”, the Bonita Springs Fire District may be asked to assist with mutual-aid to extinguish the fire. Until then, the fire is the responsibility of the Florida Forest Service and the person/business conducting the burn, the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.