Overview
- State officials, who briefed reporters Tuesday in Brooksville, warned that fireworks could be curtailed for Independence Day if June does not bring soaking rain.
- Since January, the Florida Forest Service has logged 2,101 wildfires that have burned about 136,584 acres.
- Federal monitoring shows drought across nearly the entire state, with many areas classified as extreme or exceptional and severity comparable to 2012.
- Burn bans are active in many counties, and local rules in those areas prohibit personal fireworks, so residents are urged to check restrictions before making plans.
- Leaders threatened prosecution for negligent fires and urged people to clear brush, clean roofs and gutters, and prepare quick evacuation plans as forecasts point to elevated fire danger through July into August.