Florida experiences frequent, often extensive wildfires, which are an inherent part of its natural environment. Unlike the massive, high-intensity crown fires common in Western states, Florida’s wildfires are typically low-intensity ground fires that burn through the understory. The state consistently ranks among the top nationally for wildfire frequency, a reality shaped by its unique subtropical climate and fire-dependent ecosystems. Managing wildfire risk is a year-round necessity for residents and land managers.
The Role of Florida’s Unique Environment
Florida’s susceptibility to fire is rooted in its native vegetation, which has evolved to tolerate and often require fire for survival. The state’s extensive pine flatwoods and scrub ecosystems contain highly flammable plants, creating a continuous source of fuel. Saw palmetto, for instance, ignites easily and burns intensely due to its oils and waxes, rapidly spreading fire across the landscape.
The longleaf pine-wiregrass communities depend on frequent fire to suppress competing hardwoods and regenerate. The porous, sandy soils that characterize much of the state dry out quickly after rainfall, leaving surface vegetation and the organic layer, called duff, exceptionally dry. Without periodic fires to consume this accumulating ground fuel, the resulting overgrowth can lead to severe and destructive wildfires when ignition occurs.
When Wildfires Occur
Florida’s wildfire risk is governed by distinct seasonal weather patterns. The primary fire season peaks in the late winter and spring, running from late February through May. This period precedes the summer rainy season and is characterized by a prolonged lack of precipitation, causing accumulated vegetation to dry out and create receptive fuel beds for ignition.
Climatic conditions significantly increase the risk of rapid fire spread, including low relative humidity (which can drop below 35%) and sustained winds exceeding 15 miles per hour. Large-scale climate phenomena, such as the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) cycle, also influence winter precipitation. La Niña events are linked to drier winter and spring conditions, increasing the probability of high wildfire activity. While human activity is the most common cause of ignitions, lightning strikes are a significant natural cause, particularly during the summer thunderstorm season in June and July.
Monitoring and Response
The Florida Forest Service (FFS) is the state agency responsible for monitoring wildfire conditions and coordinating response efforts. They rely on scientific tools to assess daily fire danger, including the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI). The KBDI is a continuous scale ranging from 0 to 800, which estimates the dryness of the soil and duff layer. Higher values indicate more severe drought conditions and increased fire intensity.
Values in the 600–800 range represent the most severe drought conditions, where deep-burning fires that are difficult to extinguish are expected. The FFS also manages the landscape through prescribed burning, which involves the controlled application of fire under specific weather conditions. This practice reduces the hazardous fuel load and prevents catastrophic wildfires by mimicking the natural, low-intensity fire cycle.