State and local firefighters are continuing to battle more than 200 fires throughout Florida, but recent rains have lowered the threat in much of the state.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam took solace in the precipitation that visited the central and southern parts of the state last week, but warned that drought conditions continue to exist in much of the Panhandle, and citizens should remain vigilant against the threat of the flames.
This has been an extraordinary fire season for the state of Florida ... as a result of some good rains throughout the peninsula, the number (of fires) is down around just over 200 fires, averaging just over seven fires a day, Putnam said Wednesday.
As of Tuesday, there were 218 fires throughout the state, burning more than 31,800 acres.
An executive order issued by Gov. Rick Scott earlier this month banned open campfires on state lands managed by the Florida Division of Forestry. It remains in effect, as do burn bans in 29 counties.
Click here for a map of counties with burn bans.
Of the burn bans placed in effect by Florida counties, 20 of them include a ban on fireworks -- a source of angst among many hoping to celebrate the upcoming Fourth of July weekend in the traditional fashion. Putnam stated, though, that there most likely will not be a statewide ban on fireworks on Independence Day.
The rains came just in the nick of time. Individual counties have adopted burn bans, and they vary as to whether they permit exceptions or allow exceptions for holidays and things like that. Given the good rains that weve had in the last week, I do not anticipate a statewide burn-ban order coming from this office, Putnam said.
In a freewheeling media session, Putnam was also asked about his future political plans. He poured cold water on the suggestion that Scotts poor poll numbers would entice him to run in the 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary.
Im very happy as Floridas commissioner of agriculture and looking forward to continuing to serve as Floridas commissioner of agriculture if the people will have me, Putnam said. No, Im not giving any consideration toward running for governor.
Putnam also spoke about the school nutrition bill that he championed and Scott signed into law last week.
The new law gives Putnams office control over school lunch programs as well as $810 million in federal funds and $16.8 million in state funds to pay for them. Lunch programs were previously under the Department of Education. He said there was initially some pushback for the measure from the DOE and the governors office, but he is convinced it will generate a culture of healthy eating in Floridas schools.
There was sort of an insistent murmur of concern that we believe continued to be coming from the DOE, which is to be expected in a move of this size. This is a big move, its a bold reform, Putnam said.
Putnam, a former U.S. congressman and farmer from Bartow, intends to place more fruit and vegetables grown in Florida on school menus, but backed off stripping unhealthy foods from the states school cafeterias.
If were successful, and we certainly intend to be successful, theyll see larger numbers of servings of fresh fruits and vegetables from Florida. Over time I would like to build an infrastructure where youre seeing a lot more fresh salad bars in the school system, particularly for the older grades, he said.
The healthier diets starting at a younger age will eventually reduce health care costs, Putnam maintained.
We believe that we can improve the nutritional value and the nutritional quality of the meals that we serve our kids in schools. By doing that, were exposing them to fresh fruits and vegetables, developing healthy eating habits that will stay with them throughout their lives, and over the long haul bend that cost curve on health care because of the high percentage of expenditures that come from managing obesity-related illnesses, he said.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
