As Florida Dries Out, Wildfires Spring Up
With Spring approaching, Florida's yearly drying out is upon us. Multiple wildfires have been starting due to various reasons. One of those reasons is agricultural equipment. Many ranchers are baling up hay and with dry grass and low humidity, some of these machines are catching fire. On Tuesday, March 1, Florida Forest Service and Okeechobee County Fire Rescue responded to a brush fire off of Dark Hammock Road. Okeechobee County proceeded to use their brush truck to fight the fire from the black (burned) area. The fire was quickly brought under control and the owner lost approximately 3 acres of his hayfield. After an investigation, it was determined that the tractor being used had heated up grass and started the fire.
Read full storyBrushfire Runs Through Hay Field
2/21/2022- Okeechobee County, Fl. A hay baler caught fire Sunday and caused approximately 20 acres of a field to burn. Florida Forest Service was contacted by a local rancher after his equipment caught fire. 2 dozer/plow units were dispatched and proceeded to put breaks around the fire in order to stop it's forward progression. The dozers performed a pinching maneuver to contain the fire in the shortest time possible. The Okeechobee County Fire Department dispatched a brush truck to help put out the burning hay bales and to also mop up the edges to help put the fire out. The fire had burned close to a barn and some other structures used for storage and equipment. Approximately 50 round hay bales were lost in the fire. The cost of the damaged equipment totaled about $25,000. This is not including any fences that were burnt or damaged.
Read full storyFast Moving Brushfire Threatens Homes
2/15/2022 Glades County, Fl. A fast moving brushfire was stopped by the Florida Forest Service with help from the Okeechobee County Fire Department and the Glades County Fire Department. Around 12:00 on Tuesday, the Florida Forest Service received a call from a resident saying there was a large brushfire in his pasture. Florida Forest Service units from Okeechobee and Glades County responded to the incident. When Forest Service units arrived on scene, they noticed the fire in mostly grass with flames 10-12ft in height. With the strong winds from the recent cold front, the fire ran quickly through the dry and dead vegetation. The location and terrain made fighting this fire difficult. Due to it being a cow pasture, there were many flag ponds and wet areas that could have caused trucks to get bogged down or dozers to get stuck. Within 2 hours, the brushfire was almost 200 acres and in multiple properties. After about 3 hours of firefighting, the blaze was contained and the fire department brush trucks continued with mop up operations until all smoke and flames were out.
Read full storyMultiple Brushfires Along Railroad Tracks
Multiple brushfires along a railroad in Highlands County caused railroad companies to shut down their tracks for a few hours on Monday. Highlands County Fire Department and multiple units from the Florida Forest Service fought the blazes on both sides of the tracks. The fire was burning in an approximately 30 year rough. The fuel was mostly 10 foot palmettos and oak trees. This caused many issues for the firefighters due to the denseness of the vegetation. Florida Forest Service dozers were able to break through the palmettos and establish fire breaks to slow or stop the spread of the fire. Fire department units were able to follow up and put out any lingering flames or smoke. The fire had jumped into a pasture and made a 5 acre run before it was stopped by brush trucks. The size of this fire was approximately 50 acres. Another wildfire in Glades County started along the tracks a few minutes later. Florida Forest Service and Glades County Fire Department were on scene and quickly put it out. During the dry season, sparks from trains can occasionally start fires while the train is moving.
Read full storyBrushfire Burns Into Solar Panel Field
An early evening brushfire was contained after 6 hours of firefighting. The Okeechobee County Fire Department and a unit from the Florida Forest Service were on scene. After initially being called to a 5 acre brushfire, a member of the Okeechobee Fire Department noticed a small smoke column coming from the east about 1/2 mile. After sending units to investigate, it was determined that material from the original fire had had started another brushfire a short distance away in a solar panel field. A fire department brush truck and a dozer from the Florida Forest Service entered the solar panel field and started firefighting tactics. The Forest Service dozer went in front of the fire and put in a plow line to slow the spread. The fire department brush truck then followed up with water to make sure the fire was extinguished at the line. The brush truck then proceeded to patrol the plow lines in the solar field looking for any signs that fire may have gotten out. The fire had quickly spread around the property and had crept under solar panels in some areas. There was no information about any damage done to the panels by the fire.
Read full storyHouse Catches Fire in Eastern Okeechobee County
Early Morning Fire Burns Down House At Spot in the Sun Community. Residents of the Spot in the Sun community of Okeechobee County were awakened to a neighbors house in flames. Okeechobee County Fire Department was alerted to the blaze by a local resident who was en route to work. Because of the rural area that Spot in the Sun is located, the Florida Forest Service was called and put on standby in case the fire spread into the surrounding brush. The resident explained that she had just started leaving for work when she spotted a dark, black column. She immediately called the fire department. When she noticed how close to the surrounding dry brush the structure was, she then called the Florida Forest Service. There are no details yet due to the incident being under investigation.
Read full storyWeather Patterns Increasing Florida Wildfire Potential
Southern Wildfire Potential February 2022Predictive Services- National Interagency Fire Center. Wildfire Potential March 2022Predictive Services- National Interagency Fire Center.
Read full storyBrushfire Threatens Homes in Okeechobee County
At approximately 10:15 am on Thursday February 3, 2022, a brushfire broke out in the R Bar community of Okeechobee County. The fire was approximately 1 acre in size and was burning in very dry grass. The Okeechobee County Fire Department responded quickly and had the fire extinguished before it got near any houses. The Florida Forest Service was also on scene but did not need to unload any heavy equipment. After a brief investigation, it was determined the fire started by a resident mowing their grass. The grass had piled up under the mower and the heat from the muffler started the dry grass on fire. The owner did not notice the mower was stringing fire behind it until the fire was too big. Okeechobee County has had 3 wildfires start in the last week due to residents mowing their grass in the dry conditions. Wildfires can start very easily this time of year and spread rapidly due to the high winds and lack of rainfall.
Read full story