Dry conditions throughout much of Florida continue to fuel fires throughout the state, even as officials from the Panhandle to South Florida try to stamp out the blazes.
According to the Florida Division of Forestry, as of Thursday morning, there were 380 separate fires in the state, burning more than 300,000 acres of state and federal lands.
The fires have already claimed the lives of two firefighters.
Josh Burch, 31, and Brett Fulton, 52, both firefighters with the Division of Forestry, died Monday while fighting the Blue Ribbon Fire in Hamilton County in North Florida. That fire began on June 16, and while officials are still investigating the cause of death for Burch and Fulton, two other firefighters were treated and released earlier this week for smoke-related injuries.
The wildfires have ravaged our state, burning more than 200,000 acres, and now they have
taken the lives of two of our very own men, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, whose office oversees the DOF, said Tuesday. My thoughts and prayers go out to the families and loved ones of Josh Burch and Brett Fulton, two courageous heroes who sacrificed their lives for the safety of others, he added.
Many of the largest fires throughout the state are nearly contained, but there are some that still threaten property and homes in densely populated areas.
Officials are most leery of the Espanola Fire in Flagler County, which as of Thursday was burning 5,136 acres and was 60 percent contained. The fire is nearly 1,000 acres larger than it was last week, but is 20 percent more contained, according to the DOF website.
Gov. Rick Scott signed an executive order allowing local officials to call in the aid of the National Guard to help combat the fires, and he visited local officials in Flagler County.
The drought in Florida is making it harder on firefighters. Only three of Floridas 67 counties -- Collier, Hendry and Glades -- are below 450 on the Keetch Byram Drought Index, and most of the Panhandle counties are above 600, one of the highest ratings on the index.
Light rain throughout much of the Panhandle Thursday and expected rain over much of the state Friday is giving officials hope that Floridas typical afternoon thunderstorms will resume, helping to wipe out the fires.
This rain were going to get will help, said Ronda Sutphen, fire prevention coordinator for the DOF.
Yet, the rains and thunderstorms often bring with them lightning, and the potential for more fires in more dangerous areas.
It could be a lighting strike near a brushy area, near a neighborhood, and that fire would instantly be more dangerous than the fires we have now, Sutphen said.
She added that the key to squelching the fires is sustained rain across much of the state.
Funeral services are planned for Burch and Fulton in Lake City on Friday and Saturday, respectively, and Scott has ordered flags to be flown at half staff at the Capitol on those days.
Reach Gray Rohrer at grohrer@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
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