LEE COUNTY, Fla. –Temperatures are going up as we approach the summertime which means Southwest Florida is more at risk of wildfires.
Last year alone, Florida had more than 2,200 wildfires and so far in 2019, we're up to 800 fires.
The Florida Forest Service said as temperatures increase, people should be on high alert.
It’s not a matter of if but when the next major wildlife fire will happen.
9 out of every 10 wildfires that have broken out across the U.S have happened in Florida.
And in those fires, more than 12,000 acres of land have gone up in smoke.
Several wildfires are active right now in Florida.
There was that major fire in the Jacksonville area last week that burned more than 600 acres.
Officials are still trying to determine the cause of that massive fire, but they said one of the leading causes of wildfires is escaped debris.
They suggest cleaning up any dead, dry debris near your home.
In the past, we’ve seen wildfires destroy homes and uproot lives.
It’s important to be prepared and have an evaluation plan in place.
Studies show that 80% of the homes lost to wildfires could have been saved if their owners just followed simple safety steps.
As far as Southwest Florida is concerned, the fire danger has gone down for Friday.
The fire danger Thursday was very high in Charlotte County.
There was high danger in Collier, Glades and DeSoto counties.
There’s a moderate fire danger in our area for Friday. There are also no burn bans in our area as of right now
But it’s still important to have an plan in place for you and your family in case a wildfire sparks near your home.
Officials said to have emergency supplies ready to go with food, water, first aid, medicine and other necessary items.
