wildfires

There are very low humidity levels, and the incoming cold front will bring another round of strong winds and a push of extra dry air, worsening the fire danger.

This time of year, when there is still some moisture in the backwoods, yet it hasn’t been raining every day, creates perfect conditions for professional firefighters to light a “controlled” or “prescribed” fire.

As of Sunday night, the Sandy Fire was reported at 19,814 acres and 45 percent contained. Ground and aviation resources will continue operations Monday, continuing to hold and improve control lines around the fire.

The nearly two-week long Sandy Fire in the Big Cypress National Preserve in Collier County burned closer to U.S. 41 prompting the Florida Highway patrol to issue a closure order.

Firefighters worked on the 10,551-acre wildfire growing in the Big Cypress National Preserve east of Naples, a tactic that appears to be working as control of the Sandy Wildfire rose from 5% to 15%.

A wildfire in the Big Cypress National Preserve north of U.S. 41 has been burning for a week and grown to nearly 10,000 acres.

State and federal officials say the threat of wildfires is growing in Florida over the coming weeks as more than half the state is experiencing severe to extreme drought conditions likely to persist until rainy season resumes around mid-May.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency as the McKinney fire intensified. In Montana, the Elmo fire grew to more than 11 square miles. Other states are also dealing with wildfires.

Parts of the Great Plains are forecast to hit record-breaking temperatures this week, while in Europe, extreme heat has fueled wildfires and contributed to hundreds of deaths in recent days.

For decades, it was impossible to say that a specific weather event was caused, or even made worse, by climate change. But advanced research methods are changing that.

When Hurricane Michael tore through North Florida in 2018 as a Category 5 storm, it left more than 3 million acres of felled trees in its wake.

Many people move without realizing the danger that wildfires pose to their new home. A new risk rating system could help buyers learn more on real estate sites.