Gov. Crist has now declared a state of emergency for all of Florida as our brush fire threat continues to get worse.
The declaration on Thursday clears the way for mutual aid between firefighting agencies statewide and to get federal funding assistance to fight the fires.
Crist says he had no choice but to issue the emergency order due to the ongoing fires in Central Florida, and the 15 new fires that broke out just within the last day over the state.
The state is warning with dry conditions forecast, the danger for fires will only get worse in the coming weeks.
The threat of brush fires has led Flagler County to become the latest county to put a mandatory burn ban in place.
The ban outlaws the use of open flames, such as campfires, fire works, and tiki torches. It does allow people to use barbecue grills. Volusia, Lake and Sumter counties already have mandatory burn bans in effect. Marion County has a voluntary burn ban.
Fire officials said drivers on Florida's east coast should be careful because smoke from the wildfires could cover some roads, including I-95.
Firefighters are still trying to get the upper hand on a fire in Flagler and Volusia counties that has now grown to over 2,200 acres. It is 60 percent contained.
People living in one neighborhood along the Volusia-Flagler County line were allowed to go back into their homes Wednesday night. The Division of Forestry said the fire is about 60 percent contained.
Firefighters were so concerned at one point Wedensday that they issued a mandatory evacuation for 147 homes in the Rima Ridge neighborhood. That evacuation was called off after a few hours.
People living in Cody's Corner and Haw Creek are being urged to be alert as the fire was continuing to move in a west-northwest direction.
Lake County Fire Fight Continues
In Lake County, a brush fire near Paisley has charred more than 875 acres and gave several homeowners a close call.
Firefighters said that they are literally fighting fire with fire. The firefighters have set prescribed burns, trying to get the fire to burn itself out.
Firefighters said that even when the fire looks like it is extinguished, it could be weeks before they hit all the hot spots. It's a problem made even worse by the ongoing drought, according to officials.
“Where approaching the drought conditions that we had in 1998. Two months ago we were already drier than where we were in 1998. We're in a pretty bad situation right now," said Robert Lovett.
At last check, the Lake County fire was 70 percent contained.
30 Acres Burning In Brevard Co.
In addition to these three fires, another brush fire is burning in the Malabar area of Brevard County.
The Brevard Fire Department said the 30-acre fire started around 6 p.m. Thursday along I-95.
The fire burned on both sides of the interstate. At one point, the flames were yards from the northbound rest stop. The fire is under control, and firefighters say it shouldn't spread.
Despite the flames, the interstate remains open. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Crews say drivers should beware of smoke along I-95 in that area.
Fire crews are battling a 30-acre brush fire in Marion County.
The blaze broke out Wednesday near the Rocking F Ranch near the Marion-Sumter County line. The area is swampy with some timber, but no homes are in danger.
Statewide over 107 active fires are burning, with more than 13,000 acres on fire.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture, from January 1, 2007 to April 30, 2007, there were 1,859 in Florida, burning 159,407 acres.
As of Thursday morning, Brevard County had the highest fire risk in Central Florida but no active major fires. However, extreme drought conditions have firefighters on alert.
"Every morning we have a briefing, we assess the drought index, we keep our field personnel informed," Capt. Orlando Dominguez said. "We have the largest wild land fire-fighting department in the area, our personnel; they're outfitted for wild land fire fighting. So we're ready, it's just a matter of if conditions do worsen, the we'll certainly increase the response."
According to Dominguez, firefighters' biggest concern is if the fire-ravaged area gets rain. He said those showers could also bring lightning, which is one of the biggest starters of brush fires. Roughly, 80 percent of the fires in Central Florida in 1998 were started by lightning.