WILDFIRE OVERVIEW May 25, 2007



From the Florida

Division of Forestry

Daily Wildfire Report



Florida Bugaboo Fire – The fire is located in Baker and Columbia Counties Florida north of Interstate 10 and east of State 441. The leading edge of the fire has advanced very little in the past five days and remains about 9 miles north of I-10 and 1.5 miles east of US Highway 441. It remains south of Fairview Road, west of Forest Road 237, north of Forest Road 285 and east of Needmore Road. There are no evacuations in effect for the Florida Bugaboo Fire. The Osceola National Forest north of Interstate 10 is closed for recreational use through Memorial Day. The Forest south of I-10 including Ocean Pond Campground is open. The Big Turnaround, Sweat Farm Road, Bugaboo Scrub and FL Bugaboo fires have all burned together making the combined fire, at about 511,314 acres, one of the largest in modern history in the lower 48 states. Falling pine needles are beginning to re-burn in the fire area while firefighters continue with mop-up and structural protection. The fires in Georgia and re-burn in Florida is causing significant smoke in the Lake City area.



FIRE WEATHER OUTLOOK (Dr. Deborah Hanley)

Friday: High pressure will continue to dominate the weather today and keep humidity low. Winds will stay out of the east and bring moisture to eastern areas but red flag conditions are likely in interior counties and along the west coast.

SMOKE IMPACTS: Smoke west of the Bugaboo fire may reduce visibility on roadways overnight.



Red Flag warnings are in effect for west central Florida and parts of the panhandle due to low RH and strong winds.

Friday Night: Winds will decrease overnight in the Panhandle but will remain strong in the Peninsula. High dispersion in the southern Peninsula should help prevent smoke and fog formation.

PRECIPITATION: 0-20%

Extended Outlook:

A dry air mass will remain over the state and keep rain chances low through at least Tuesday.



National Forests in Florida-Forest Supervisor Marsha Kearney



When visiting the National Forests in Florida this Memorial Day please remember the possibility of new wildfires remains extremely high. Low humidity combined with an extended drought has reduced fuel moisture levels significantly leading to conditions favorable to extreme and erratic fire behavior. When combined with any significant wind the conditions exist for large fire development from almost any ignition source.



Visitors are reminded that due to extreme fire danger, open fires are prohibited in the Apalachicola, Osceola and Ocala National Forests. This ban on open fires includes: building, maintaining, attending or using a fire, campfire, or stove fire, except for stove fires in commercially designed devices for cooking. These commercially designed devices include propane cook stoves and above-the-ground pedestal grills. Fires that are placed directly on the ground for cooking purposes are considered to be the same as campfires. Off-highway vehicles must be equipped with a spark arrester that is approved by the USDA Forest Service, a braking system, and a muffler, all in operating condition. Visitors are also reminded to leave fireworks at home. Fireworks are prohibited in the National Forests in Florida.



ROAD CLOSURES

The Florida Highway Patrol posts current road closure information on their website at:

http://www.fhp.state.fl.us/