Dry Conditions and Brush Fires Threaten Properties in South Florida
It looks like we're heading into one of the driest seasons in the history of South Florida...At least that's what the South Florida Water Management District said this week. According to officials from the district, the area is in the midst of its driest season in the last 80 years.
As a result, Palm Beach County has been hit with 29 brush fires since December, as compared to only four during the same period last year. As a matter of fact, the number of brush fires in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, which are part of the forestry division's Everglades District, is more than twice the number for the same period last year.
Lightning Is Not The Usual Suspect
Authorities are no longer considering lightning the cause for the increment in the number of brush fires striking the area: the source may be found in human activity...Therefore, they are asking people to be extra careful because the severe drought has created the "ideal" situation for brush fires to occur: dense build up of very dry "underbrush" (pine needles, trees and other dead plants) which, when coupled with water shortages make it even harder to combat the fires.
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