A wildfire that was sparked inside of a bombing range within the Ocala National Forest last week burned approximately 230 acres, with officials reporting the possibility of more flare ups this week due to expected lightning strikes from thunderstorms.
According to the United States Forestry Service, a wildfire broke out inside the Bombing Range 11 within the Ocala National Forest on Wednesday, April 23.
At the time, the fire displayed “little or no movement from its initial area.” However, due to hot and dry conditions over the weekend, flare ups were reported.
On Sunday, an aerial firing operation with a helicopter was initiated, bringing the acreage up to 230. The fire was held within the containment lines established and the moderate rainfall during the afternoon dampened the fire behavior.
Despite the precipitation, the fuels in and around the forest are expected to dry out quickly. Officials say that thunderstorms forecasted for the coming days could create lightning strikes that can smolder and “fan to life” patches of receptive fuel that are still on the ground.
On Sunday, approximately 60 to 70 lightning strikes were detected in the area.
A map from the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services shows that there are currently over a dozen active wildfires around the state of Florida, with dozens others reportedly “contained.”
According to the National Integrated Drought Information System, parts of Marion County are under severe and extreme drought.
There is currently a voluntary burn ban in place in Marion County.
The wildfire comes just a few weeks after another wildfire consumed over 500 acres of the Ocala National Forest.
Just days after that wildfire, a brush fire reportedly destroyed acreage behind a Walmart in Ocala.