North Florida stays vigilant as similar fire risks linger

A burn ban has been instituted in Alachua County, as the region experiences dry and windy weather similar to conditions that led to wildfires in Central Florida.

The emergency order prohibits fireworks and all outdoor burning not specifically permitted by the Florida Division of Forestry. The mandatory ban affects all of Alachua County, including municipal and rural areas.

The region is experiencing a combination of high winds, low humidity and lack of rainfall that can lead to wildfires, said Matt Zibura, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville.

The conditions led the Weather Service to issue a red flag warning for the region Monday that resumes today from noon to 7 p.m.

"It looks like it's going to stay on the dry side," Zibura said. "The fire danger will be high for the next few days."

Wildfires in Brevard, Glades and Volusia counties have destroyed homes and forced hundreds of residents to flee, causing Gov. Charlie Crist to issue a state of emergency. The declaration led to firefighters from North Florida, including one from Alachua County and one from Levy County, to be sent south to battle the fires.

North Florida has seen a similar number of fires as other parts of the state, but none that has grown as large, said Ludie Bond, wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Division of Forestry.

"We just don't seem to be having the same challenges that some other districts in the state are having," she said.

About 100 wildfires have burned about 1,100 acres this year in a North Florida district that includes Alachua, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion and Putnam counties. Most of the fires have been less than 3 acres in size, Bond said.

The division is conducting twice daily flights across the district and has staffed fire towers to look for wildfires. Bond said May and June are typically the most active time for wildfires, when conditions mean a small spark from machinery can turn into a massive fire.

"There are a lot of things that can throw a spark and cause a wildfire," she said,

Last year around this time, the Bugaboo fire burned 600,000 acres in northern Florida and southern Georgia. Around the same period in 1998, wildfires burned across the state and scorched 7,100 acres locally.

The region is again experiencing the combination of weather conditions that exacerbate fires. Bond said those conditions include a lack of rainfall, relative humidity under 30 percent and winds of 20 mph.

Such conditions led to the burn ban and red flag warning. Alachua County commissioners issued a proclamation Friday ordering the burn ban, which is effective until they vote to end it.

The Division of Forestry may still issue burn permits, but other outdoor burning and fireworks are banned. Violations are a second-degree misdemeanor, punishable by up to 60 days in jail and a $500 fine.

The ban does not prohibit the use of grills, but fire officials encourage residents to watch for stray sparks while cooking outdoors. The use of motorized equipment such as all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes is discouraged.

Dry weather is expected to last at least through Thursday and Friday, but Zibura said even then chances of rain will be a miniscule 20 percent.

"It will probably be this way for the rest of the month," he said.

Bond said the start of the summer storms can end dry conditions, but also mean lightning strikes that cause fires. Division firefighters are always prepared to be busy at this time of year, she said.

"That's springtime in Florida," she said. "Nobody gets married or takes days off, because it can get canceled in a heartbeat."

Nathan Crabbe can be reached at 352-338-3176 or crabben@gville sun.com.