Nine counties enact burn bans

A burn ban has been instituted in nine Florida counties so far as the state continues with weather conditions ripe for more wildfires. Alachua, Baker, Flagler, Hendry, Putnam, Sumter, St. Lucie, Volusia counties have passed a mandatory burn ban while Marion County has a voluntary ban.

The emergency orders prohibits fireworks and all outdoor burning not specifically permitted by the Florida Division of Forestry.

The region is experiencing a combination of high winds, low humidity and lack of rainfall that can lead to wildfires. May and June are typically the most active time for wildfires.

Wildfires in Brevard, Glades and Volusia counties have destroyed hundreds of thousand dollars in property so far. A fast moving fire started by a short in a Clay Electric transformer sparked a mandatory evacuation of homes in Putnam County and burning more than 150 areas on Tuesday evening before firefighters could get it partly under control.

There is also a fire burning in the Osceola National Forest near the Baker and Columbia County line. That fire is expected to grow to about 100 acres as firefighters set back burns to burn away underbrush fueling the fire in order to keep it contained.

The chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms will increase this week with the best chance of rain on Friday and Saturday. However, an increased chance of thunderstorms could mean an increased chance of lightning that could ignite additional wildfires.