PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. — Even though there have been more than 2,700 wildfires in Florida so far this year, a fire in Broward County that was still ongoing on Friday is by far the largest.
While most of them are human-caused, this one can be blamed on the lightning, which can strike more than 10 miles away from the storm, instantly igniting the sawgrass.
It’s fuel that burns very hot and travels very fast, producing intense plumes of smoke.
And it’s unusual considering that South Florida is so deep in the rainy season.
April through June is Florida’s main fire concern and when it’s the end of the dry season, fuel is at its driest.
This year is different.
Broward County is in a severe to extreme drought even in August, making this year’s fire season even longer.
Since the beginning of the year, Broward picked up nearly 24 inches of rain; that’s more than a foot below average.
But the sawgrass is resilient and expected to grow back two and a half feet in just the next couple of weeks.
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