Commissioner Fried & Florida Forest Service Provide Wildfire Safety Tips Ahead of Thanksgiving Holiday

Tallahassee, Fla. – Ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday, Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried and the Florida Forest Service are providing Floridians and visitors with wildfire safety tips to ensure a safe holiday.

“Whether frying a turkey or grilling for a big game, we are encouraging all residents and visitors to be vigilant as they gather outdoors with friends and family this Thanksgiving,” said Commissioner Nikki Fried.

While recent rainfall has started to alleviate drought conditions across the state, North Florida remains in a moderate drought with little to no rain expected this week. The Florida Forest Service is encouraging residents to clear dry debris from their roofs and yards to eliminate the link that could carry a wildfire from the woods to their home.

Follow these additional tips for a safe Thanksgiving holiday:

• Avoid burning yard debris on dry, windy days
• Never leave a fire or outdoor heat source unattended
• Keep turkey fryers and grills at least 10 feet from the home and away from overhanging branches and natural areas
• Clear an area around the heat source – free of leaves, branches and other flammable debris or materials
• Keep a fire suppression tool on-hand – for turkey fryers, keep a multi-purpose, dry powder fire extinguisher ready in the event the oil ignites
• Keep children and pets away from fryers and grills
• Douse coals with water and dispose in a metal container or bare mineral soil – never dump used coal briquettes into dry grass or debris. 

“Each of us can take a proactive role in wildfire safety,” said Jim Karels, State Forester and Director of the Florida Forest Service. “With a few simple preventative steps, we can all enjoy a safe Thanksgiving holiday.”

Since January, the Florida Forest Service has responded to 1,710 wildfires that have burned more than 90,700 acres. To view an interactive map of active wildfires, drought and fire danger forecast information and a list of current county burn bans, visit FDACS.gov/Wildfire

The Florida Forest Service, a division of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, manages more than 1 million acres of state forests and provides forest management assistance on more than 17 million acres of private and community forests. The Florida Forest Service is also responsible for protecting homes, forestland and natural resources from the devastating effects of wildfire on more than 26 million acres.

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