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Florida’s first-ever drought and wildfire summit brought together local, state and federal officials to get a handle on the current conditions and threats facing Florida and the Southeast.  Florida is a month and half into wildfire season.  The state’s drought has lingered for about a year and half. As a result, both ground and surface water levels have reached close to record lows. Low water levels make help make conditions ripe for wildfire season, which starts in December and ends in May. Despite the drought, forecasters believe the wildfire season is not as bad as it could be.

“Everyone can make a difference, even if you’re just piling up trash in your yard and burning it,” said Ira Jolly, with the Division of Forestry.  “You can make a difference. You don’t have to burn it on a windy day. Call in and see what the conditions are before you burn. But everyone should take a part in this.”

So far, 100 wildfires have burned in Florida since January 1st, charring 14,000 acres of land.  This is slightly fewer than the average number of wildfires that have burned annually during the last 25 years.