Florida fire danger spikes as 'Extreme Drought' reaches 25-year high, as state of emergency declared

Watch: Prescribed pain successful Orange County, Florida arsenic authorities battles historical drought

Part of Kelly Park successful Orange County, Florida, was burned intentionally Wednesday arsenic onshore absorption officials effort to enactment up of occurrence upwind conditions. The Florida Forest Service (FFS) is reporting a unsafe commencement to the 2026 occurrence season, with much than 650 wildfires recorded crossed the authorities since Jan. 1. More than 95 percent of the authorities is experiencing drought conditions. 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Florida is successful the midst of its worst drought successful 25 years, according to caller accusation released this week. That comes arsenic the Florida Forest Service (FFS) reported a unsafe commencement to the 2026 occurrence play Friday, with much than 650 wildfires recorded crossed the authorities since the opening of the year.

Governor Ron DeSantis declared a authorities of exigency earlier this week owed to the drought conditions, arsenic good arsenic the historic acold drawback the authorities experienced astatine the commencement of the month.

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The bid waives cultivation value restrictions to let farmers to transport and harvest crops faster. It besides directs Florida to cod accusation to petition assistance from the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Small Business Administration.

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Water shortage restrictions person been issued crossed each 5 of the state's h2o absorption districts — galore of which see limits connected tract watering.

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, 98 percent of the authorities is experiencing immoderate level of drought, with 85 percent experiencing "severe drought", the astir since March 2001.

These conditions person near vegetation crossed the peninsula bone-dry and acceptable to ignite.

Wildfires this twelvemonth person already consumed much than 21,000 acres, according to the FFS.

Part of Kelly Park successful Orange County was intentionally burned Wednesday arsenic onshore absorption officials effort to enactment up of occurrence upwind conditions.

Emergency pain bans are successful effect crossed 34 of the state's 67 counties. Under these progressive bans, residents are strictly prohibited from starting campfires, bonfires, oregon occurrence pits, arsenic good arsenic burning gait discarded oregon trash.

These measures are designed to trim the strain connected firefighting resources already battling progressive blazes similar the 3,500-acre Buggy Fire successful Broward County. 

According to the FOX Forecast Center, Florida has been successful a prolonged adust signifier since the 2025 hurricane season.

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"Tropical systems, for each the demolition they cause, inactive nutrient tons of rain," the Forecast Center said Friday.

2025 was a uncommon Atlantic hurricane play that saw nary landfalling hurricanes successful the U.S.

That deficiency of rainfall continued done the autumn and done the archetypal fractional of Winter. January, for example, was the 20th driest successful 131 years of grounds keeping successful Florida.

FILE - Alligators assemblage into drying h2o March 1, 2001 successful Everglades National Park astatine Shark Valley due to the fact that of drought. 

((Photo by Tim Chapman/Liaison) / Getty Images)

Some of the worst drought conditions are crossed North Florida and parts of the Panhandle. 

Jacksonville and Tallahassee person seen their rainfall deficits swell to much than 13 inches beneath mean since past August.

In the adjacent term, immoderate drought alleviation whitethorn beryllium connected the way, arsenic this weekend's cross-country tempest could driblet 1–2 inches of rainfall crossed the Panhandle done the weekend.

Florida's occurrence play historically runs from January until the commencement of the rainy play successful June.