61 Wildfires Burned Across Florida This Week

ORLANDO, Florida – 61 wildfires burned across Florida this past week, consuming over 2,300 acres, according to the Florida Forest Service active fire points website.

Although known for hurricanes, Florida also experiences the second highest number of wildfires in the nation, second only to California.

Lightning, arson, debris burning, and accidental human activities are the primary causes of Florida wildfires.

In Orange County, a woman was arrested for intentionally setting fires on Wednesday.

A mylar balloon that blew into a power line sparked a 275-acre wildfire in Osceola County on Thursday.

Smoke from the wildfires blanketed parts of Central and South Florida, reducing visibility for drivers and raising air quality concerns for people with respiratory conditions.

In western Broward County, U.S. 27 was temporarily closed due to a nearly 500-acre wildfire in the Everglades on Wednesday.

A 250-acre brush fire erupted in Flagler County on Thursday, while a 40-acre fire started in Pasco County that same day.

Several smaller fires also broke out this week across the Florida Panhandle.

The wildfires come amid severe drought conditions across Florida, increasing fire risks.

“Florida had another dry week. Conditions in almost all of the state range from Abnormally Dry (D0) to Extreme Drought (D3),” the National Integrated Drought Information System posted on X.

“Some areas have precip[itation] deficits over 6” in the last 90 days. Little to no precip is expected for at least another week.”