More of Florida is burning.
Early April 16, there were 69 wildfires burning across the state.
Twenty-four hours later, there were 82 wildfire as the Sunshine State continues to suffer from one of the worse droughts in years.
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As of 9 a.m. April 17, the 82 wildfires were burning almost 7,800 acres acorss the state.
Smoke from those wildfires can be blown for miles, affecting air quality.
Here’s what you should know April 17.
Are there any wildfires near me? See Florida map showing active fires
As of 9 a.m. April 17, there were 82 active wildfires burning 7,792 acres across Florida.
➤ Residents returning home after Picayune Strand State Forest wildfire
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, between Jan. 1 and April 12 in Florida:
Are any roads closed due to smoke?
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at 9 a.m. April 17 no roads are closed due to smoke or fires. Be aware the FHP has noted the following on its website:
Smoke affecting air quality in some Florida counties
According to the EPA, the air quality across Florida ranges from good to moderate.
➤ See breakdown of air quality by Florida county
How do I protect myself when air quality is bad or I have breathing problems?
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, here’s what you can do to protect yourself if you have breathing problems or the air quality is bad where you live:
If you are at home:
If you have to go outdoors:
Current drought conditions in Florida
The U.S. Drought Monitor on April 14 provided the following breakdown on how bad the drought is in Florida:
Drought and dryness categories: 99% of Florida
Total area in drought: 99%, impacting 18.1 million Florida residents.
Burn bans in effect across Florida
As of 9 a.m. April 17, burn bans have been issued for 30 of Florida’s 67 counties:
Burning yard debris is always prohibited in two counties:
What is a burn ban?
The Florida Forest Service tries combines all county-enacted burn bans on its website.
A burn ban typically prohibits the outside burning of yard trash and vegetation, as well as campfires, bonfires and burn barrels, but can vary by county.
➤ Current Florida fire danger map
Burn bans are issued when there’s a high risk for wildfires and include such conditions as:
What is the Keetch-Byram Drought Index?
The Florida Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service use the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to measure the risk of wildfires based on soil moisture, how dry fuel is, and precipitation.
The scale ranges from 0 to 800, with 0 indicating saturated soil and 800 representing extreme drought with a high potential for “intense, deep-burning fires.”
How can you protect your home from wildfires?
The Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and Florida Division of Forestry recommend creating “defensible space” around your home to help protect it from wildfires.
➤ How can you be ready for wildfires?
“By properly maintaining your landscape and allowing at least 30 feet of space around your home, you can reduce potential wildfire hazards.”
Basic safety tips are:
Here are more tips:
Within 30 feet of your home
30-60 feet from your home
60-100 feet from your home
Interactive map: Enter your address to find closest wildfire risks
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://naples.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Florida wildfire numbers jump as state remains parched. See fires near you
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
