Pocica said high winds contributed to a flare-up of the Kove Estates fire. A spot over from the Piney Woods blaze also may have been caused by weather conditions. According to Walt Thomson, Fire Behavior Specialist with the Nature Conservancy, Tuesday's weather will bring a little more moisture to the atmosphere and slightly decreased winds out of the northeast with temperatures in the high 80s, but the potential for severe fire behavior is still high. The countywide range for Sunday was 349-702. The numbers may be a little misleading because the drought index does not account for the three years of rain deficit the County and the state have experienced.
Conditions are severe.
Volusia County has experienced 185 fires since May 1, according to Pocica. Everyone needs to take precautions to prevent from running those numbers up. Sunday, fire crews launched an all-out assault on three blazes that broke out in Volusia. A 155-acre fire in the Piney Woods subdivision off Maytown Road in Osteen destroyed several structures. County Property Appraiser Morgan Gilreath Monday conducted a preliminary damage assessment in the area.