Firefighters responded to a barrage of wildfires over the weekend across the state, with the driest conditions in Northern Florida and Greater Tampa Bay.
Sixteen wildfires sparked in Hillsborough County Sunday, including a 350-acre blaze spread by heavy winds and dry brush across 350 acres in Wimauma.
More than 30 blazes broke out in nearby Polk County. And in Volusia County, Interstate 95 was closed in both directions between Interstate 4 and State Road 400 in Daytona Beach on Sunday afternoon due to a wildfire that began with a vehicle fire along the interstate, impacting traffic leaving the Daytona 500.
Fire officials have warned the region is in store for a dangerous brush fire season as a worsening drought grips much of Florida. Dry conditions have led to watering restrictions and burn bans in recent weeks.
The Orlando area has been less affected than some other areas, with the U.S. Drought Monitor placing Orange and Seminole Counties in “moderate drought,” while the worst areas of the state are in “extreme drought.”
But in Osceola County, a brush fire broke out Sunday afternoon near Avenue A in Intercession City near South Poinciana Boulevard, according to a news release from Osceola County Fire Rescue. The fire spread to a nearby manufacturing facility that produces plastics for commercial nurseries, sending huge plumes of black columns high into the air, according to Fox35 television. Less than 24 hours later, that fire was contained and under control, according to Osceola County Fire Rescue.
The Wimauma fire was first reported about 2:30 p.m. near Bethlehem Cemetery, said Rob Herrin, the public safety information chief for Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.
When crews arrived, the blaze had spanned just 2 acres. But 20- to 30-mph winds with gusts up to 40 mph swept its embers to the west. Fire crews dug plow lines twice, only to have embers jump the ditch and continue to spread.
With support from Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office and Tampa police helicopters dumping water from the air, firefighters contained the blaze by about 7 p.m.
“If it wasn’t for those air assets, I joked that it might have gone up to Thonotosassa,” Herrin said.
No one was injured in any of the 16 fires across Hillsborough County. Property damage to several outbuildings was reported, like a shed that burned down near State Road 60 and County Road 39.
There were also no injuries reported in the 30 wildfires that engulfed parts of Polk County. The largest fire on Sunday burned more than 400 acres near State Road 60 in the River Ranch area. State Road 60 was reopened around 9 p.m.
A backyard fire that grew out of control in Bartow on Sunday led to the arrest of the Bartow school teacher who started the fire.
The fire was intentionally set in a backyard to burn debris, but it spread to cover approximately five acres. The teacher, 57-year old Brian Webster, was charged with violating Polk County’s burn ban.
“It seems that brush fires have been a constant issue throughout the day today. I just want to remind everybody that there are serious drought conditions in Polk County,” Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Shawn Smith said in a news release. “These illegal recreational fires need to cease.”
Herrin also urged Hillsborough residents to take the ongoing burn ban seriously. Evening showers that followed behind strong winds Sunday did little to help fire crews, he said.
“An hour of rain doesn’t count,” he said. “I don’t think it changed any conditions at all. I’m very confident it didn’t, because all it takes is one more hot day, and all that water goes away.”
Brush fires will remain a threat until at least May, when Florida’s rainy season begins to dampen soils.
“We’re still looking at, what, 3½ months of severe drought and dry and high risk for for brush fire?” Herrin said. “If we could just remind folks of this burn ban — that they can only use their grill, and that’s it — hopefully that’ll help keep the incidents down.”
