Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said drought conditions are the same as in 1998 when wildfires devastated Florida.
Putnam told Gov. Rick Scott and Florida Cabinet colleagues Thursday that drought covers 93 percent of the state.
In 1998, Flagler County was entirely evacuated and a July 4th auto race in Daytona Beach was postponed because of wildfires.
Florida forestry director Jim Karels said the threat isn’t as great now due to lessons learned from 1998. That includes a stepped up prescribed burn program to clear underbrush that fuels wildfires. Currently 390 wildfires are burning on 300,000 acres of state and federal lands in Florida.
Putnam said the impending rainy season will make things worse before it helps due to lightning. He said 50,000 lighting strikes were recorded Wednesday night statewide.
Was this article valuable?
Here are more articles you may enjoy.
Former CEO of Nonprofit P/C Statistical Agent Sentenced for Stealing Millions 
Board Calls for US Steel to Address Safety Issues as It Rebuilds Site of Fatal Explosion 
Head of EEOC Urges White Men to Report Discrimination 
Abundant Reinsurance Capacity Accelerates Market Softening During 1/1 Renewals 
