Volusia County, FL- The warmest July on record along with ultra-dry conditions are causing fire concerns for the Florida Forest Service. Wildfire Mitigation Specialist Julie Allen said the Drought Index is unusually high for this time of year.
Allen reminds people that while there is no burn ban in place, you still need to be careful and get authorized. High temperatures and low rainfall make it easier for lightning-sparked fires to spread more quickly. Rain and slightly cooler temperatures are in the forecast but storms could bring cloud-to-ground lightning, which could cause more brush fires.
The Forest Service has been dealing with a number of brush fires, many in hard-to-reach places. If you do see active flames, Allen asks that you call 9-1-1 so a fire can be checked out before it gets out-of-control.
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