2023 Florida wildfires
A fire truck during the Major Fire, 2023
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The 2023 Florida wildfire season is an ongoing series of wildfires that have been burning throughout the U.S. state of Florida. As of December 3, there were a total of 2,656 wildfires, burning 101,188 acres (158.106 sq mi) across the state.[1]

Meteorological synopsis

A number of factors contributed to the wildfire season, including a La Niña event, which limited rainfall, dry brush, and effects stemming from Hurricane Ian that made landfall in southwest Florida in 2022.[2][3] In January 2023, the National Interagency Fire Center issued a fire potential outlook which concerned areas across northern Florida and southeastern Georgia to be at above-normal levels for significant wildland fire potential.[2] During 2023, several major cities, including Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, received below-normal precipitation, and 87 percent of the state were at abnormally dry condition levels.[4] In February, Naples received no measurable precipitation, and the following month, only 0.84 inches (21 mm) of rain fell in Marco Island, while 0.30 inches (7.6 mm) of rain fell at Naples Municipal Airport, which resulted in a burn ban in Collier County on March 4 and the designation of an extreme drought across Collier County on March 28 by the United States Drought Monitor.[5] Red flag warnings were issued across portions of the state in May, with several counties also issuing burn bans or prohibiting burning yard debris.[6]

List of wildfires

The following is a list of fires that burned more than 1,000 acres (400 ha), or produced significant structural damage or casualties.[7]

Name County Acres Start date Containment date Notes Ref
Mile 31 Broward13,500March 12March 16Smoke stemming from the wildfire caused low visibility on U.S. Route 27, ultimately closing a 40-mile stretch of the highway.[8][9]
Cypress Camp Trail Collier9,749April 4Mid-April[10]
County Road 121 Nassau1,053April 202023Caused by a vehicle fire northwest of Bryceville.[11][12]
Major Marion and Lake4,952April 272023[13]
Sandy Collier19,814May 1May 16Started by a lightning strike at Big Cypress National Preserve.[14][15]

Notable fires

Sandy Fire

On May 1, a lightning strike started a wildfire in southeastern Big Cypress National Preserve, forcing closures and evacuations north of Interstate 75.[16] The wildfire then grew to 8,400 acres (13.1 sq mi) by May 7,[17] and 10,000 acres (16 sq mi) by the next day, as did the containment of the fire, which increased to 5%.[18] Evacuation plans were then implemented on May 11 in Ochopee as the wildfire grew to more than 11,000 acres (17 sq mi), also being 20% contained.[16][19] The next day, a portion of U.S. Route 41 was closed as the fire moved towards the highway,[20] and a travel advisory was also issued in portions of Collier and Dade counties as a result of poor visibility from smoke stemming from the wildfire.[21] The wildfire also grew to 15,130 acres (23.64 sq mi) and was 30% contained on May 12.[21] On May 14, the wildfire continued to spread, burning 19,814 acres (30.959 sq mi) in Big Cypress National Preserve, before being fully contained two days later.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "Current Wildfire Information". Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  2. 1 2 Wulfeck, Andrew (December 3, 2022). "Florida expected to be hotbed for wildfires in early 2023". FOX Weather. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  3. ↑ "Drought plus rising temperatures boost chances of Florida Wildfires". The Miami Herald. April 8, 2023. pp. A3. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  4. ↑ Wulfeck, Andrew (March 4, 2023). "Wildfires grow in Florida amid intensifying drought". FOX Weather. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  6. ↑ McCloud, Cheryl (May 3, 2023). "Large portion of Florida under red flag warning. What's that mean?". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  7. ↑ "WFIGS 2023 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center.
  8. ↑ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  9. ↑ Hamacher, Brian (March 12, 2023). "Smoke From Wildfire in Western Broward Leads to Closure of Portion of US 27". NBC Miami. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  10. ↑ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  12. ↑ Avanier, Erik (April 20, 2023). "Nassau County brush fire extends 650 acres, 20% contained". WJXT. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Major Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Sandy Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  15. 1 2 "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  16. 1 2 Bayles, Tom; Braun, Michael (May 11, 2023). "Sandy Fire over 11,000 acres; some residents urged to leave". WGCU. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  17. ↑ Braun, Michael (May 7, 2023). "Uncontrolled Sandy Fire grows to 8,400 acres despite weeklong containment efforts". WGCU. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Containment Increases on Sandy Wildfire". National Park Service. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  19. ↑ Vigo, Melvin (May 11, 2023). "Sandy Wildfire Evacuation Plan underway in Ochopee". WINK-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  20. ↑ Alvarez, Michelle; Dolan, Paul (May 12, 2023). "Big Sandy Fire rages over 15,000 acres". WINK-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  21. 1 2 Braun, Michael (May 12, 2023). "Troopers close section of U.S. 41 as 15-plus acre Sandy Fire closes in". WLRN. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
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