BROOKSVILLE, Fla. – Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson held a press conference alongside Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer and State Fire Marshal Blaise Ingoglia, and Florida Forest Service leadership to provide an update on current wildfire conditions across the state, the wildfire outlook for the coming months, and information on what Floridians can do to prevent wildfires.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson said, “Florida is already nearing our annual wildfire totals, and we are only entering the peak of wildfire season. With drought conditions affecting the entire state, the wildfire threat across Florida remains extremely high. The Florida Forest Service is fully engaged, and our wildland firefighters have already been working tirelessly for the past few months to protect lives, property, and natural resources across the state. Florida also leads the nation in prescribed fire, using controlled burns year-round to reduce wildfire risk and protect communities. Floridians can help by following burn bans, avoiding outdoor burning, and remaining vigilant throughout wildfire season.”

Florida is currently experiencing an extremely active wildfire season, with more than 2,100 fires burning nearly 136,000 acres since the start of the year. According to the National Interagency Fire Center, Florida is expected to face well-above-normal wildfire potential through the summer months as severe drought conditions continue statewide.

“Most wildfires are caused by human activity, with over one-fifth caused by arson,” said Attorney General James Uthmeier. “Our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect people and property, and criminal or reckless behavior that puts them in harm’s way will come with severe punishment.”

Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia said, “This is only the beginning of peak wildfire season, which means that more wildfires are possible in the coming months. I encourage all Floridians to take preventative measures to stop wildfires and minimize damage in our communities. I am thankful for the hard work of the Florida Forest Service and our forestry firefighters that put their lives on the line to protect our communities.”

Nearly 40 counties across Florida currently have burn bans in place as drought conditions continue to intensify. The Florida Forest Service encourages Floridians to check local burn restrictions before conducting any outdoor burning and to take steps to reduce wildfire risks around homes and properties.

Rick Dolan, Director of the Florida Forest Service said, “Conditions are dry, fire danger remains high, and we expect this season to stay busy. Our wildland firefighters are ready, but wildfire prevention is something every Floridian can help with.”  

There are many ways Floridians can help reduce the chances of a catastrophic wildfire, including creating defensible space, safely burning yard waste, utilizing prescribed burning, and reporting suspicious arson activity. To learn how to protect your life, home, and community, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.

To view current wildfire conditions and activity, visit FDACS.gov/CurrentWildfires.

One of the best available tools the Florida Forest Service has been using to fight potentially devastating wildfires is prescribed burning. Florida leads the nation in the use of prescribed fire, and approximately 2 million acres of public and private land in Florida are treated with prescribed fire each year. The Florida Forest Service has treated more than 580,000 acres of state forests with prescribed fire since the beginning of 2023. 

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland, and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire.

For more information about Commissioner Simpson and the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FDACS.gov