Florida Hazard Watch - Wildfire Information
Florida is home to millions of residents who enjoy the state's beautiful scenery and warm climate. But few people realize that these qualities also create severe wildfire conditions. Each year, thousands of acres of wildland and many homes are destroyed by fires that can erupt at any time of the year from a variety of causes, including arson, lightning and debris burning. Adding to the fire hazard is the growing number of people living in new communities built in areas that were once wildland. This growth places even greater pressure on the state's wildland firefighters. As a result of this growth, fire protection becomes everyone's responsibility.
Protect Yourself from Wildfires
How can I protect myself from wildfire?
- Prepare for a wildfire
- What to do before a wildfire
- What to do during a wildfire
- What to do after a wildfire
- How to protect yourself from a fire in your home
Home Owners Information - Are You Prepared for Wildfires?
Are you Firewise Florida?
This web site contains educational information for people who live or vacation in fire-prone areas of the United States. It was designed to acquaint YOU with the challenges of living with wildland fire.
Wildfire: Are You Prepared? (PDF)
Wildfires often begin unnoticed. They spread quickly, igniting brush, trees and homes. Reduce your risk by preparing now — before wildfire strikes. Meet with your family to decide what to do and where to go if wildfires threaten your area. Follow the steps listed in this brochure to protect your family, home and property.
Wildland Fires (Fact sheet and Backgrounder) (PDF)
The threat of wildland fires for people living near wildland areas or using recreational facilities in wilderness areas is real.
Advance planning and knowing how to protect buildings in these areas can lessen the devastation of a wildland fire.
Fire-safe Landscaping Can Save Your Home (PDF)
Wildland fires destroy hundreds of homes and acres of land every year across the country. Fire-safe landscaping is an effective tool that creates an area of defensible space between your home and flammable vegetation that protects against devastating fires.The United States Fire Administration (USFA) encourages you to keep fire safety at the forefront by learning how to landscape and maintain your property to minimize possible fire damage and slow fires if they start. Remember, fire safety is your personal responsibility... Fire Stops With You!
FireWise Landscaping Checklist (PDF)
When designing and installing a firewise landscape, consider the following:
Local area fire history, site location and overall terrain, Prevailing winds and seasonal weather, Property contours and boundaries, Native vegetation, Plant characteristics and placement (duffage, water and salt retention ability, aromatic oils, fuel load per area, and size), and Irrigation requirements.
Tools
fire.org is the home page of Systems for Environmental Management, a Montana nonprofit research and educational corporation. For over 25 years we've specialized in issues concerning wildland fire behavior, fuel, weather, and effects.
Wildland Fire Assessment System
WFAS, the Wildland Fire Assessment System, is an internet-based information system. The current implementation provides a national view of weather and fire potential, including national fire danger and weather maps and satellite-derived "Greenness" maps.
The NOAA Fire Weather Information Center is a roundup of various NOAA Web sites and information on the latest weather forecasts, including satellite images and graphics. Some external links are included for your convenience.
NOAA Satellite Fire Products Page
The HMS is an interactive processing system that allows the trained satellite analysts in the Satellite Analysis Branch (SAB), within the Satellite Services Division (SSD), to manually integrate data from various automated fire detection algorithms with GOES and polar (Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR), Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer Fire Algorithm (MODIS) and Defense Meteorological Satellite Program/Operational Linescan System (DMSP/OLS)) images. The result is a quality controlled display of the locations of fires and significant smoke plumes detected by meteorological satellites.
State Emergency Operations Center
The State Emergency Operations Center, located in Tallahassee, serves as the central clearinghouse for disaster-related information, and requests for deployment of assistance.
Update:
February 10, 2012 14:15
