DOVER, Fla. — Forestry workers are sounding the alarm when it comes to fires in our region, urging people not to let all of that rain we’ve seen recently trick you into thinking we’re out of danger when it comes to this year’s brush fire season.
The area remains under a moderate risk for fires, and that could quickly escalate again with just a couple of days of dry, windy weather.
The Florida Forest Service knows people sometimes burn debris, although in Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, it’s illegal to do so without a permit.
While they discourage it, they know it happens.
“The best thing I would recommend is that if you’re going to do that, whether it be illegal or illegal I prefer you not do it illegally,” said the service’s Tommy Price. “Go to our website. Call our dispatch and find out if it’s a good day to burn.”
Thanks to El Niño, the region has seen a huge turnaround in recent weeks, going from severe drought in parts of the Tampa Bay area to slightly drier than normal.
Still, when it comes to fires, the impact of all that rain can also be deceiving — as demonstrated by a controlled burn that quickly got out of control less than two weeks ago in Sarasota.
“I don’t think anybody’s guard should be down,” 10 Tampa Bay meteorologist Amanda Pappas said. “Because it could just take a couple of weeks where...[we] fall back into that deficit.”
Another big concern: The Florida Forest Service says the same weather pattern that brought us rain this winter is expected to bring dry conditions in May and June, fueling what history has shown could be a dangerous pattern.
“1998 was the worst season that we’ve had,” Price said. “We had to evacuate entire counties. It’s that same pattern this year.”
With the potential for conditions to change so quickly, people are encouraged to visit the Florida Forest Service's website for information about rules, safety tips and current conditions.