MIDWAY, FL — Gadsden County is experiencing some of its driest conditions of the year, and firefighters say the worsening drought is fueling a spike in dangerous brush fires.
- Midway has issued a burn ban, but no county-wide ban is in place.
- Fire crews say low humidity and dry vegetation are causing fires to spread quickly.
- Watch the video below to hear what firefighters say you should avoid doing during these dangerous conditions.
Extreme Drought Raises Fire Danger Across Gadsden County
UPDATED BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT:
Gadsden County is dealing with some of the driest conditions we've seen all year… and that's pushing fire risk to dangerous levels. I'm Tatyana Purifoy in the Midway neighborhood, where firefighters say they're already seeing the impact, with more fires breaking out this week.
"Over the last couple of weeks we've had a good run of both wildfires, grass fires, outdoor-type fires, as well as structure fires in the county."
Gadsden County is facing dangerously dry conditions right now… as extreme drought continues to spread across the area. Forecasters say the air mass is expected to get even drier — creating the perfect setup for rapid fire growth.
County leaders are now warning people to be careful with anything that can spark… from outdoor burning to parking on dry grass. Several cities have already issued burn bans — but there's still no county-wide ban in place.
A red flag warning was issued Monday — signaling critical fire weather with low humidity and increasing winds. The red flag warning has since been lifted, but the threat remains high.
And the Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department has been responding to a surge in brush fires this week — many of them fueled by dry grass and fast-moving conditions.
Jim Roberts, the deputy chief of Mount Pleasant Volunteer Fire Department, said, "But folks, if you don't have to burn, the key is to not burn. Don't throw any cigarettes out on the road. You now be careful of where you park your car on dry ground because any heat, anything like that can start a fire very quickly."
Firefighters say these conditions can turn a small flame into a large fire in minutes. The fire department is also reminding people that many of these fires are preventable — and they need the public's help to reduce the risk.
The community can play a huge role in preventing the next fire — simply by avoiding any outdoor burning and being careful with heat sources. As this drought continues, first responders are asking everyone to stay alert. In Midway, Tatyana Purifoy, ABC 27.
Original:
The City of Midway is issuing a full No Burn Order due to extreme dry conditions within city limits, according to the Midday Fire and Rescue Service Facebook.
In the post, it says the order applies to the following:
• Debris fires
• Trash fires
• Land-clearing or pile burns
• Open fires of any kind
The post states that firefighters have already responded to five large fires this past week. It also says that the Florida Forestry Service will respond to all illegal burns and wildfires, and Ag Law will follow up on violations.
If you have any questions about burn regulations or the no-burn order, contact the Florida Forestry Service or the Midway Fire Department.
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