Cool weather creates greater risk of fires spreading

The cool weather in Gainesville could cause things to heat up quickly, according to Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Ludie Bond of the Waccasassa Forestry Center.

“The conditions right now are such that if a fire were to start it could not only start very easily but spread very rapidly,” she said. “Things are drying out quickly because  we’re having beautiful sunny days with gusty winds and low humidity.”

Bond said the weather conditions make it easier for grasses, pine straw, dead leaves and other dry, dead vegetation to ignite.

“There are no burn bans anywhere in the area or in the state of Florida at this time, but residents need to use caution because of the dry conditions that we’re having, and there is no rain predicted within the next several days at least,” she said.

Campers and bond fire enthusiasts can visit www.floridaforestservice.com for more information.

Emily Miller wrote this story for online.