Florida Wildfires Amid Historic Drought Bring on Evacuations

The Sunshine State is experiencing a historic drought – its worst drought in 25 years. As the Southeast struggles through a dry spell, Florida is battling multiple wildfires. FOX Weather reports that, as of writing, "more than 12,000 acres have been scorched by over 100 active wildfires."

Burn bans are understandably in effect for 38 counties, with Fire Weather Warnings issued across most of Florida for Tuesday. The warnings also extend from the panhandle to the Gulf Coast, including Tallahassee, Orlando, Tampa, and Fort Myers. Winds between 15 and 20 mph on Monday night, coupled with the dry air, contributed significantly to the fire threat. However, the winds are expected to abate on Tuesday night.

Evacuations were issued for residents in Jacksonville and Gainesville as fires rage near the two cities. Officials have declared a state of emergency in the Gainesville area, in particular. Elsewhere, two merged wildfires in Clay and Putnam counties, called the Railroad-Crews Road Fire, have laid waste to more than 4,000 acres. Thankfully, said fire is at 50 percent containment.

Residents of the aforementioned counties have also been ordered to evacuate, although some roads were closed due to smoke and poor visibility. In addition to the road closures, Amtrak canceled service between Jacksonville and Miami, along with a second route from Miami to Savannah, Georgia, on Monday and Tuesday.

Another wildfire, the Pineland Road Fire, blazes north of the Florida border, burning more than 8,900 acres in Clinch County, Georgia.

More than 15 areas are experiencing "one of their top five driest springs on record," FOX Weather reports, including the aforementioned Tallahassee, Nashville, Montgomery, and Raleigh.