Rains of the summer thunderstorm season would be welcome, but the tinder-dry conditions increase the likelihood of fires started by lightning. Meanwhile, trees planted in the winter and crops planted this spring are withering in the parched soil. Irrigation, the largest water use in the region, will draw significantly more water from the aquifer this year as farmers struggle to save their crops. Following the record rains of winter came the record drought of spring. Dry vegetation easily spread fires started by lightning, arson or carelessness.
Fire is a natural occurrence in many of Florida's natural communities.
Prescribed burning now used to maintain the fire-dependent flatwoods and sandhills on both publicly and some privately owned lands. The fragmentation of the landscape and the concern over liability makes burning increasingly difficult, however. Without regular low intensity fires, highly flammable underbrush continues to accumulate. We've seen the result this year with about 500,000 acres burning statewide. The Suwannee region sustained major wildfires in San Pedro Bay, Osceola National Forest and Northeast Alachua County.