Experts believe that the blazes can be attributed to dry conditions and shredded tree branches left over from the 2018 hurricane in the US.
After a rash wildfire that ignited dead vegetation, hundreds of Florida residents were evacuated.
Monday’s blazes swept Florida’s PanhandleAccording to Joe Zwierzchowski, a spokesperson for the Florida Forest Service, the fires scorched 4,800 hectares (12,000 acres), and were only 10 percent contained near Panama City.
He said that there was another day of fairly steady winds pushing fire towards these communities. The increased cloud cover and humidity should reduce some of the fire behavior we have seen.
There have been no reports of injuries or deaths.
There are currently wildfires in Panama City, Florida.
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These wildfires were sparked by growing concerns about climate change and drought in many parts of the United States. Experts believe that the latest fires were started by dead vegetation and timber, left over from Hurricane Michael which hit the Panhandle in 2018.
The Category 5 storm caused 72 million tonnes thick vegetation to be left behind, which was then dried in drought-like conditions.
Zwierzchowski stated that they have been bracing for this. He pointed out that the approximately 965km (600 mile) of fire line has been installed to prevent wildfires. All of our worst-case scenarios are now realized.
Michael was the first Category 5 hurricane that made landfall in the US since 1992’s Hurricane Andrew. It was also the fourth time it had ever been recorded. In October 2018, it ravaged Mexico Beach and Tyndall Air Force Base. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the hurricane caused 16 deaths and caused damage of approximately $25 billion in the US.
At the news conference, Nikki Fried, Florida Commissioner for Agriculture, stated that the Florida Panhandle was also left with tonnes of shredded and uprooted trees.
Fried said that Hurricane Michael posed a further threat to wildfires in communities. Wildfires can be difficult to control. The intensity of wildfires will rise with Hurricane Michael’s added fuel and dense areas of vegetation.
Up to 700 homes have been evacuated due to the fires. Officials said that a 120-bed veterans nursing facility in Panama City was also evacuated because of the smoke.
Overnight, more 200 emergency workers and firefighters from all over the Panhandle helped to strengthen containment lines.
According to the Florida Forest Service: Dry conditions in Florida have elevated fire dangers. This year there are 148 active wildfires across Florida, including the Bertha Swamp Fire (3,000 acres), in neighboring Gulf County.
