Florida On Fire: Blaze Locations, Burn Ban Counties

TALLAHASSEE, FL — While strong chances for rain return to the Tampa Bay area’s forecast as the workweek continues, wildfires remain a problem across the region and the state. As of Monday, the Florida Forest Service reported 100 active wildfires burning on lands under its jurisdiction. That tally didn’t include two fires burning on 118,114 acres of federal land within the Sunshine State.

As dry conditions continued across large swaths of Florida, the state also reported more counties had enacted outdoor burn bans. As of the state’s last update on bans on Friday, most counties within the Tampa Bay area had temporarily halted outdoor burning. Only Pinellas County in the immediate region was operating without an outdoor burn ban. That county, however, has rather strict, year-round burning regulations. More information about outdoor burning in Pinellas County can be viewed on the county's website.

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Pasco County Fire Rescue crews spent Sunday afternoon fighting a blaze that broke out along the State Road 54 corridor, near Gunn Highway. The 40-acre brush fire prompted the closing of a nearby park and forced limited air traffic in the area.

Pasco is one of the counties that has enacted a ban on outdoor burning. Even so, officials there say not everyone is heeding the temporary rules.

“Pasco County Communications has received multiple reports of illegal fires since the burn ban was put in place,” officials said in a May 1 statement.

See also: 2 Cold Fronts May Bring Change In Tampa Bay’s Weather

While rain expected in the Tampa Bay area over the next few days is hoped to bring relief, state officials reported on May 1 that 26 active wildfires that spanned more than 100 acres each continued to burn across Florida. Those fires, under the state’s jurisdiction, covered an estimated 27,550 acres combined. Since 2017 began, the state reports a total of 89,743 acres of land under its jurisdiction have been affected by wildfires.

To see where fires were burning as of Monday, May 1, check out the image below provided by the Florida Forest Service:

As of Monday, the forest service said burn bans were in effect in most counties across the Tampa Bay area and nearby. Counties with burn bans include Hillsborough, Pasco, Manatee, Sarasota, Polk, Hernando and Charlotte.

For more information on wildfires, county burn bans and fire dangers, visit the state’s website. A graphic showing the counties with active bans follows:

After an especially dry Florida dry season, water shortage concerns have also cropped up across the Tampa Bay area. Last week, the Southwest Florida Water Management District declared a Phase I water shortage. Whether the anticipated storms this week will improve those conditions remains to be seen.

Photo courtesy of the Hernando County Fire Rescue Facebook page