2023 Florida wildfires
Appearance
2023 Florida wildfires | |
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![]() A fire truck during the Major Fire, 2023 | |
Map | |
![]() Map of 2023 Florida wildfires (map data) | |
Season | |
2024 → |
The 2023 Florida wildfire season was series of wildfires that burned 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
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 | Broward | 13,500 | March 12 | March 16 | Smoke 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 | Collier | 9,749 | April 4 | Mid-April | [10] | |
County Road 121 | Nassau | 1,053 | April 20 | 2023 | Caused by a vehicle fire northwest of Bryceville. | [11][12] |
Major | Marion and Lake | 4,952 | April 27 | 2023 | [13] | |
Sandy | Collier | 19,814 | May 1 | May 16 | Started 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
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
- ^ "Current Wildfire Information". Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ FOX Weather. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- The Miami Herald. April 8, 2023. pp. A3. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- FOX Weather. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "WFIGS 2023 Interagency Fire Perimeters to Date". National Interagency Fire Center.
- ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- NBC Miami. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 9, 2023.
- ^ "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ Avanier, Erik (April 20, 2023). "Nassau County brush fire extends 650 acres, 20% contained". WJXT. Retrieved December 10, 2023.
- ^ "Major Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ "Sandy Fire". InciWeb. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
- ^ a b "Storm Events Database - Event Details". National Centers for Environmental Information. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ a b Bayles, Tom; Braun, Michael (May 11, 2023). "Sandy Fire over 11,000 acres; some residents urged to leave". WGCU. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Braun, Michael (May 7, 2023). "Uncontrolled Sandy Fire grows to 8,400 acres despite weeklong containment efforts". WGCU. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ "Containment Increases on Sandy Wildfire". National Park Service. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Vigo, Melvin (May 11, 2023). "Sandy Wildfire Evacuation Plan underway in Ochopee". WINK-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ Alvarez, Michelle; Dolan, Paul (May 12, 2023). "Big Sandy Fire rages over 15,000 acres". WINK-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
- ^ a b 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.