Florida On Fire: Wildfire Risk High In Several Tampa Bay Area Counties

TALLAHASSEE, FL — With 84 wildfires still burning across Florida on Tuesday, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs issued a warning that risks remain high in many parts of the Sunshine State despite recent rains. Most counties in the Tampa Bay area, in fact, had risk levels that ranged from moderate to very high as of May 30. The only exception along the central Gulf Coast was Sarasota County, which had relatively low risks.

“As we enter what is traditionally Florida’s rainy season, much of the state is still experiencing drought conditions and elevated wildfire danger,” Commissioner Adam H. Putnam said in a Tuesday statement. “Residents and visitors need to pay attention to and comply with local burn bans and should take every precaution to help prevent wildfire.”

Get the Patch newsletter and alerts in your inbox.

According to Putnam’s office, more than 2,300 wildfires have burned an estimated 233,000 acres across Florida since the year began. A total of 84 active wildfires were reported by state officials on Tuesday morning. Eighty-one of the active wildfires were burning on lands under the jurisdiction of the Florida Forest Service. A total of 21 of those fires were deemed major, meaning they covered more than 100 acres. Those 21 fires combined encompass about 45,774 acres.

State officials say three wildfires also continue to burn on lands under federal jurisdiction. Those wildfires combined covered more than 183,000 acres.

As of Tuesday, the state’s wildfire danger map showed strong risk levels in much of the Tampa Bay area. The risk breakdown by county is as follows:

• Pinellas – very high
• Manatee – very high
• Polk – very high
• Hillsborough – high
• Pasco – moderate
• Sarasota – low

To view the entire map, check out the graphic below provided by the state:

To see the locations of the active wildfires reported by the state as of May 30, check out the graphic below:

With wildfires a concern across much of the state, many counties have issued bans on outdoor burning. Most counties in the Tampa Bay area, in fact, have issued their own emergency declarations related to wildfires. To see which counties are under burn bans, check out the graphic below provided by the Florida Forest Service:

The National Weather Service anticipates rain chances will gradually rise throughout the week in the Tampa Bay area. Thunderstorms are expected daily in some parts of the region with the strongest chances for rain anticipated on Friday.

For more information on wildfires, county burn bans and fire dangers, visit the state’s website.

Photo courtesy of Pasco County