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More than two months have passed since the bulk of the three-county Blackwater Forestry Center coverage area has seen appreciable rainfall and current fire danger levels reflect it. With a dry cold front predicted to pass through the area this weekend and humidities slated to drop into the 20 percent range, the Florida Forest Service is urging residents to hold off on burning any yard debris and be cautious with any other outdoor burning.
With these conditions in mind, Blackwater has increased its Fire Readiness Level to a 3 through November 27 and will not issue burn authorizations through this weekend. Fire Readiness Levels are set by the district based on current and predicted weather as well as potential fire behavior and severity. At FRL3, all wildfires require two FFS firefighting crews (tractor/plow units) and an afternoon aerial patrol. Fire Readiness Levels range from 1 to 5, with 1 being the lowest and 5 the highest.
It has been 72 days since the last significant rainfall (more than .25 inches) in much of the area and the current Keetch-Byram Drought Index shows Blackwater’s mean rating at 626 which is in the Severe Drought category. Normal for this time of year is 241-420.
While there are no burn bans in place for Escambia, Santa Rosa or Okaloosa counties, the FFS is urging residents to not burn any yard debris until we receive a significant amount of rain or conditions improve. Burn bans typically are issued by individual counties.
The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests, provides management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests, while protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.
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