Experts warn embers can ignite homes miles away in unpredictable Florida wildfires
Active wildfires in north and central Florida are burning hotter, faster and more unpredictably, raising new concerns about how these fires are spreading and who is at risk.
Experts say the fires are not only progressing along the ground, but also throwing embers for miles, igniting new fires far from the main flames.
Dr. Ludie Bond, a wildfire mitigation specialist with the Florida Forest Service, says the behavior she’s seeing now is extreme.
“We have seen short and long distance sightings, burning trees, firenados, fire swirls,” she said.
Bond says there is a common misconception about how bushfires destroy homes.
Many people think that flames should reach a structure directly, but this is often not the case.
Bond says most homes destroyed in wildfires are ignited by flying embers, which can travel significant distances ahead of the fire line.
“The fires we’ve seen here in north-central Florida have shown extreme fire behavior,” she said. “This is what we observed from the ground and from the air.”
These conditions are fueled in part by persistent dry weather.
The National Weather Service warns that the region may not see relief from drought conditions until July, increasing the risk of continued fires.
Bond points out that these fires are no longer limited to rural or forested areas.
“It’s happening in people’s backyards,” she said.
As the threat persists, officials are urging residents, even those not directly near active fires, to prepare evacuation plans and stay informed.
Several tools are available to help people track fires and get real-time updates, including the website: BeWildfireReadyFl.com.
The Florida Forest Service wildfire dashboard and Watch Duty app are also good tools to have.
“Don’t wait until you get that alert on your phone or knock on your door to be ready to go,” Bond said. “Make sure you know what you’re going to do with yourself and your pets,” she said.
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