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Fires Destroy Property, Acreage

    An estimated 21-acre wildfire in the Paisley area on April 11 and a 120 acre fire east of Umatilla on Monday are serving as a reminder that even with recent rains and the lifting of the burn ban in Lake County, fire danger remains high and the risk to personal property is real.
    On April 11, Lake County Fire Rescue and the Forest Service responded to a fire in an area off Paisley Road in Northeast Lake County.  The fire was caused by a 4x4 that had gotten stuck while driving off a designated trail.  The vehicle’s exhaust system ignited dry grass it came in contact with, sparking a fire that claimed the vehicle.
    Officials have estimated that up to 85% of Florida wildfires have human causes, and used the fire to remind the public of the current fire risk and how to avoid accidentally starting a fire in the forest and being held responsible for the results:
- Driving off designated trails and surfaces is illegal on forest land.  In the case of the Paisley fire, tall grass concealed soft soil, leading to the vehicle getting stuck and the fire being ignited.
- Anyone who starts an uncontrolled fire on forest land may be cited and fined, as swell as assessed the cost of putting the fire out.
    Officials said the benefits of rainfall last week are quickly diminishing, with potential fire fuel again drying out.
    As of press deadline Tuesday, Lake County had not reinstated its burn ban, lifted over a week ago after dousing rains.  However, data provided by the Florida Forest Service indicated the county’s KBDI - or drought index number - rising daily.  On Monday, over half the county was in the 400-600 range, with 500 being the number that activates a burn ban.  Overall, Lake County was at 487, but the highest data from the county’s multiple data reporting centers was 583, well within the mark to trigger another burn ban.
    Florida is currently in the peak of its traditional wildfire season, made worse this year due to a lack of rainfall.  With the traditional summer rain season not due to arrive  until early June, several weeks of high fire risk could remain. 
    On Monday, Lake County Fire Rescue, along with responders from the Florida Forest Service, Eustis Fire Department, and Umatilla Fire Department descended on a brush fire in the Wiygul Road area east of Umatilla.  Bolstered by high winds, the brush fire covered the east Umatilla area in smoke and ash, the fire blossomed to 120 acres by Monday afternoon, and had resulted in three homes being evacuated. By Monday evening, the fire was 85% contained and evacuation notices had been lifted. The Forest Service deployed a helicopter to fight the fire, which was started by land clearing that escaped containment, according to Lake County officials.