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Wildfire danger remains despite rainfall

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Despite varied amounts of rainfall throughout the state over the weekend, Florida Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Charles H. Bronson is urging residents not to let their guard down in regard to fire prevention.

“Rainfall varied widely throughout the state over the weekend, leaving areas in the Panhandle flooded while the central and southern peninsula still have high wildfire risk,” Bronson said. “More than 13 inches of rain fell in the far western Panhandle counties, while central and south Florida received little rain.”

The Florida Division of Forestry is sending road crews to assist with the rebuilding and reopening of flooded roads and submerged bridges in the northwestern part of the state. Meanwhile, approximately 65 firefighters from northern Florida and a 10-person incident command team have been deployed to assist with wildfire suppression efforts in Volusia and Hernando counties.

The division routinely sends assistance to areas experiencing extraordinary emergency conditions. By re-allocating resources, the division can provide assistance for problems at hand and enable local crews to use their resources to respond to new local emergencies.

“While it’s unusual to have a flooding and a wildfire emergency at the same time, the flexibility of our personnel to quickly respond to emergencies of all kinds underscores the importance of the work that the Division of Forestry performs,” Bronson said.

For more information about wildfire danger or tips for protecting your home and property, visit http://www.fl-dof.com or contact your local Division of Forestry field office.

Source: Florida Division of Forestry