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Drought Impacts Crops, Backyard Gardens; Raises Brush Fire Danger
May 10, 2011
The lack of rain is more of a problem than just brown, dry lawns in the North Escambia area. It’s issue for farmers and gardeners and is a potential wildfire problem for everyone.
For farmers, it means a delay in planting as they wait for meaningful rainfall, or it means the need to irrigate the dry soil. And for backyard gardeners, it means the need to pull out the hose to keep those young tomato plants and cucumbers alive.
A dry, cold fall and winter coupled with an abnormally dry spring means many of the grassy plants and small shrubs in the area are waiting tinderboxes for a stray spark or inattentive homeowner whose pile of burning leaves and yard debris got away from them as they went inside for a drink.
The peak of Florida’s wildfire season begins in mid-March and runs well into June and signs of an active season are evident and officials with the Florida Division of Forestry’s Blackwater District — which includes the North Escambia area — are urging residents to not only be cautious when burning but be prepared in case of an emergency.
Through the end of April, rangers in the Blackwater District, which includes Escambia, Santa Rosa and Okaloosa counties, responded to 121 wildfires that have consumed 1,890 acres. During the same year to date period in 2010, there were 91 fires burning 627 acres.
“We have seen a tremendous increase in the number and size of fires this year compared to years past,” said David Smith, Operations Administrator for Blackwater. “We expect a high level of activity for the foreseeable future. Recent dry conditions have resulted in more active fire behavior and we are concerned the situation is expected to worsen in the near term if we don’t receive substantial rainfall soon.”
The first mention of rain in the North Escambia forecast comes Friday with a 30 percent chance of a shower. Then rain chances increase to 40 percent for Saturday and Sunday.
Pictured top: A field of corn is irrigated recently at Highway 4 and Dortch Road in Bratt. Pictured below: This file photo shows a wildfire raging through a North Escambia wheat field. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
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