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Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Crews battle more than a dozen fires across Tampa Bay area in the last several days
The Brief The Florida Forest Service said it responded to more than a dozen wildfires across parts of the Tampa Bay area over Memorial Day Weekend. Fire officials don't expect these recent fires to be the last during peak dry season, with June expected to be dryer than usual. Fire officials also warn that as the summer storms pick up, lightning strikes can smolder for a few days before sparking up a brush fire. LAKELAND, Fla. - The Florida Forest Service said it responded to more than a dozen wildfires across parts of the Tampa Bay area over Memorial Day Weekend. Fire officials said recent weather conditions have played a big role in recent fires. "The majority of the fires over the weekend we attribute to lightning," said Todd Chlanda, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service's Lakeland District. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Big picture view Chlanda said they responded to 15 wildfires over the weekend. On Saturday, Hillsborough Couny Fire Rescue responded to a 400-acre brush fire in Alafia River State Park. On Sunday, a bush fire broke out near Balm Riverview Road in Hillsborough County. HCFR said it also responded to a brush fire that was about 10 acres in north Plant City on Monday afternoon. Fire crews said it broke out near Shoupe Road, west of SR-39. RELATED: Florida Forest Service expects busy summer as experts predict prolonged dry season Local perspective Residents in north Plant City spotted smoke near their home Monday afternoon. "One of my neighbors reached out and was like, 'Hey, the woods are on fire behind our houses,'" Trey Larson, the owner of Florida Game Recovery, said. Larson said his drone has a thermal camera and can track heat while flying over the area. "As the HCFR is rolling up, I'm watching it with the drone. I'm air dropping them pins of like bigger fires on that property, and while I was there, I looked up on the horizon and saw an even bigger fire on a property down the street," Larson said. READ: 3 arrested in S. Tampa DUI crash that severed man's leg: Police Larson said the drone can detect hotspots and give a bird's-eye view of the fire as it spreads. "In a fire situation, you can look into those woods and see every spot that is on fire, whereas on the ground, looking through all the bushes, it's really tough to see," Larson said. Dig deeper More agencies are looking to drone technology to help fight fires. The Florida Forest Service said it's in the beginning phase of adding drones to its program. "We have helicopters, and we have fixed wing planes that help us locate the fire, scout the fire and also help us put out the fire," Chlanda said. Chlanda said once their aviation units get on the scene of a fire, it's important to let their crews take over. He said the Florida Forest Service assists local agencies with a lot of these wildfires, because its equipment can help reach difficult areas some of these fires burn in. MORE: Tampa officials tout street resurfacing progress, discuss ways to further expand work "Where you see the fire departments, they're not going to really take a lot of their equipment off the paved road a lot, because they're just not built for that," Chlanda said. "Our dozers are built for going out in the woods, tracking through the forest, through brush and dragging the plow behind it to cut that fire line into the soil." What's next Fire officials don't expect these recent fires to be the last during peak dry season. Chlanda said June is expected to be dryer than usual. "Our pilots are in the air every day, scanning, monitoring for any kind of smoke columns that they see," Chlanda said. "So, I got a feeling that the next week or so is probably going to be busy for all of our resources." Fire officials also warn that as the summer storms pick up, lightning strikes can smolder for a few days before sparking up a brush fire. The Source The information in this story was gathered by FOX 13's Kylie Jones. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Florida Forest Service expects busy summer as experts predict prolonged dry season
The Brief Florida fire officials are working hard to prevent brush fires during peak drought season. This year's dry season is expected to last into the end of June or the beginning of July. Polk County is under a burn ban to minimize the risk of wildfires. POLK, Fla. - Firefighters and wildfire mitigation specialists are working hard to prevent brush fires from getting out of control as the state is in the midst of its peak drought season. The Florida Forest Service responded to a brush fire along the Polk Parkway on Wednesday afternoon. Why you should care "We responded with two tractor plow units and two brush trucks," said Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Todd Chlanda. Polk County Fire Rescue and the Auburndale Fire Department also responded. It took two hours to put out the four-acre fire. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, though officials say it doesn't take much of a heat source to start a wildfire. READ: Polk County detention deputy accused of inappropriately touching a juvenile quits upon arrest "Whether that be somebody flicking a cigarette or an ember out their window as they are driving or pulling off to the side of the road to answer their phone or text message, the catalytic converter and muffler underneath a vehicle are enough to cause a fire in the grass in the dry conditions that we have," said Chlanda. Currently, Polk County is under a burn ban to minimize the risk of wildfires. Officials are prohibiting many types of outdoor fires, including campfires, bonfires and burns of yard or construction debris. Violators could face fines and potential jail time. Big picture view Typically, the rainy season starts at the end of May or the beginning of June, but the Florida Forest Service predicts a much later start this year – the end of June or the beginning of July. So that means a prolonged dry season and a busy summer for the Florida Forest Service. "I just urge everybody to use extreme caution with any type of outdoor activity, whether it be barbecuing, driving, grinding or welding," said Chlanda. CLICK HERE:>>>Follow FOX 13 on YouTube The Source FOX 13's Carla Bayron collected the information in this story. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS LIVE: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app: Apple | Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘We are extremely dry': Fires persist amid burn ban in Polk County
POLK COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) – Fire crews are working across Polk County to keep small fires from becoming devastating ones amid a county-wide burn ban. 'We're a long way out from being out of the woods,' Todd Chlanda, the Wildfire Mitigation Specialist for the Florida Forest Service, said. 'We need substantial, widespread rainfall over a number of days to get out of these drought-like conditions.' On Wednesday, a grass fire spread along Saddle Creek Road while, at the same time, there was a fire along the Polk Parkway at Winter Lake Road. Both those fires were contained without impacting structures. 2 Florida hikers die after falling from cliff face in Utah Highlands County issued a smoke advisory for areas of Lake Placid and South Sebring after a brush fire on Henscratch Road. 'It doesn't take long for dry conditions, windy conditions like we're having, for a fire to become a devastating wildfire within a matter of moments,' said Chlanda. Chlanda said it's been years since conditions have been this dry in Central Florida. 'We're starting to see the grass is turning brown. The leaves are crunchy. The vegetation is starting to droop. The trees are starting to droop from lack of moisture. Those are all tell-tale signs that we are extremely dry and people need to be very cautious doing anything outside,' said Chlanda. 'Operation Snow Storm' leads to 19 arrests in Pinellas County With a burn ban in effect in Polk County, people are not allowed to burn trash or debris, ignite fireworks or use campfires or bonfires, among other prohibited activities. 'It's any outdoor activity that causes a spark: welding, grinding,' Chlanda said. 'If you're going to be doing any of those types of activities, you're definitely going to want to make sure that you have a water source handy nearby and a phone, should it get out of control, that you can call 911.' The burn ban in Polk County went into effect on April 15 and will be repealed once conditions are deemed safe. Violators can be fined up to $500 and face jail time. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
