Volusia County under red flag warning

Posted On: March 3, 2023

The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning for Volusia County due to extremely dry conditions and low humidity. According to Volusia County Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Scott Smoak, the area will experience “near-critical weather conditions” today.

The county’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index is 446, up from 350 on Feb. 1. The drought index measures soil dryness on a scale of 1 to 800, with one being saturation and 800 being desert-dry.

“A tightening pressure gradient will result in breezy to windy conditions, with gusts up to 35 mph,” Smoak said. “Fires will be quick to spread under these conditions, and caution must be taken to prevent fire spread. We haven’t had significant rainfall since Hurricane Nicole, and vegetation throughout the county is drying out. We will review the weather every morning and set our response levels accordingly in conjunction with the Florida Forest Service.”

Residents should be cautious with outdoor activities and are encouraged to follow these wildfire safety tips:

Practice wildfire safety

• Do not discard cigarettes from moving vehicles.
• Do not park a hot car or operate all-terrain vehicles on dry grass.
• Check lawnmowers and farm equipment for properly working spark arresters.
• Extinguish fires when cooking outdoors, and never leave fires unattended.

Protect your home

• Design and landscape your home with fire safety in mind. Allow a 30-foot buffer of non-combustible material around your home.
• Use non-combustible materials on the roof and clean the roof and gutters regularly.
• Rake leaves and dead limbs and twigs. Clear flammable vegetation.
• Have a garden hose long enough to reach any area of your home and property.