Despite seeing thunderstorms on Sunday, the rain barely made a dent in the drought across Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, and officials are urging residents to do their part to help reduce the risk of wildfires.

Mayor Donna Deegan, Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department Chief Percy Golden II, and other officials will hold a press conference to address the elevated wildfire risk on Friday.

Crews from the Florida Forest Service and Putnam County fire rescue responded to a fast-moving wildfire north of Bardin Thursday afternoon.

Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department on Saturday responded to a brush fire on Old Gainesville Road that threatened nearby structures, including a grocery store.

A rare red flag warning was issued Thursday for parts of Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, as gusty winds, very low humidity and severe to extreme drought created conditions that can quickly spark new wildfires or cause existing fires to spread.

A brush fire in Baker County overnight is causing some lane closures on I-10, according to transportation officials.

A wildfire that threatened homes and forced evacuations in Baker County is now mostly contained after burning more than 120 acres Wednesday afternoon.

Firefighters are working to contain a brush fire on County Road 13A North near Ashton Oaks Drive. According to St. Johns County Fire Rescue, crews arrived to find a controlled burn that had escaped and spread into nearby woods.

Florida state officials warned of heightened wildfire risks across the state as dry conditions were expected to continue into 2026.

The Florida Forest Service will not be issuing burning authorizations for Clay, Duval, and Nassau counties due to unfavorable weather conditions on Thursday.

Putnam County Fire Rescue is responding to a 200-acre wildfire at Robert’s Ranch.

Crews with Jacksonville Fire and Rescue were battling a massive brush fire Wednesday in the Bartram Park area.

A massive wildfire that broke out in Nassau County last week is now 95% contained, according to the Florida Forest Service (FFS).

Nassau County fire crews and law enforcement continued working to put out a massive wildfire in a rural area west of Bryceville on Friday.

Nassau County fire crews and law enforcement are working to put out a brush fire in Bryceville, near the St. Marys River that has quickly grown to about 125 acres.

Since January, 1,694 fires have burned approximately 91,000 acres throughout Florida.

Crews responded to a brush fire Sunday near the Duval-Nassau county line, authorities said.

The Florida Forest Service is working to put out a large wildfire in St. Johns County.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. A wildfire that broke out Sunday afternoon near Interstate 95 and County Road 214 is now under control, according to the Florida Forest Service. At last check, firefighters were working on improving containment lines. Crews said traffic was following normally, but added there may still be smoke in the area. The cause of the fire was not immediately unknown.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. State forests are going to a cash-free system as a precaution against the coronavirus. The Florida Forest Service announced Monday that an online, cash-free system has been set up as recreation areas reopen. Cash will no longer be accepted for Florida State Forest recreation sales, a news release from the forest service said. Day-use passes for recreation areas, including trailheads and off-highway vehicle riding areas, will be available for purchase July 1. Group campsites, picnic pavilions and group recreation areas will reopen with a capacity limit of 50 people on July 10.

When determining fire risk, there are multiple variables that come together, including precipitation, relative humidity and wind and drought conditions. The Fire Danger Index map is a quick way for Florida residents to check the risk in their county. The first thing that weve got to look at is how many days since significant rainfall, so what is significant rainfall to us? Chase says that the Fire Danger Index is a quick reference guide to determine if you should burn or not. Burn bans across the state of Florida from the Florida Forest Service (Florida Forest Service)Both human elements and lightning are the main contributors to wildfires in the state of Florida.

The fire, named West Power Line Fire," started just west of Highway 301 and Big Oaks Road in Nassau County. The FFS said it has four tractor plow units working to contain the fire and its containment, as of 6:45 p.m. was at 80%. Crews have successfully placed a firebreak line around the fire, FFS said, and no structures are being threatened. In an update Saturday evening FFS said they were no longer worried about the fire due to the rain and the effective line. Crews are no longer actively working the scene, but if you are in the area, FFS asks to please exercise caution.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. After the first brush fire of the season on Thursday, first responders are reminding residents of Duval Countys burn ban going into Memorial Day weekend. Fire Rescue was there through the night to make sure there were no flare-ups and no homes were in danger. Going into Memorial Day weekend, firefighters have a message:It can happen anywhere. Jacksonvilles Memorial Day weekend forecast looks hot and mostly dry, according to News4Jax meteorologist Rebecca Barry. Duval County has a burn ban year-round, and firefighters asked residents to not do any outdoor burning, especially with the upcoming Memorial Day weekend when people are known to shoot off fireworks.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. A fire in a wooded area just off San Pablo Road on Thursday afternoon came within 100 feet of homes before firefighters, two of whom were treated for heat exhaustion, could beat it back. The Florida Forest Service had two tractors cutting fire breaks and a spotter plane in the air. No homes were burned, but News4Jax heard from residents from the Pablo Bay neighborhood, on the west side of San Pablo Road and north of J. Turner Butler Boulevard, who were evacuated. Little did she know, her mother, Kelly Pogue, was battling traffic and thick smoke as she tried to get home. San Pablo Road reopened by early Thursday evening, though firefighters said smoke could linger and be a problem into Friday or even into the weekend, not only for the immediate area, but possibly even J. Turner Butler and Beach boulevards.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Firefighters are battling a pair of wildfires in the Panhandle that have consumed more than 2,500 acres, closed a portion of Interstate 10 and destroyed structures. JFRD Battalion Chief Trace Barrow told News4Jax on Thursday the firefighters haven’t slept since they got the call at 10 p.m. Wednesday that they would be traveling to the Panhandle. On Thursday, JFRD said, firefighters worked to put out structure fires near Milton, Florida, where the Five Mile Swamp Fire raged. “I know that just the area that we that our crews have worked, at least 10 to 12 residential houses were destroyed, completely destroyed," Barrow said. For Barrow, the hardest part is seeing families return to their now unrecognizable homes.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Drones could be deployed in state efforts to manage invasive species and address wildfire threats, under a proposal unanimously approved Wednesday by the House. “Currently, in the state of Florida we are facing an epidemic of invasive species destroying our local ecosystems, including the Everglades,” said bill sponsor Jason Fischer, R-Jacksonville. Law enforcement is also prohibited, with certain exceptions, from using drones to gather evidence or other information. Fischer’s proposal would allow the Florida Forest Service to use drones to mitigate the threat of wildfires on public lands. “Drones may be a more cost-effective way and more efficient way than current practices,” Fischer said.

If the drier than normal conditions persist we could be facing a drought and an enhanced wildfire danger in the spring. So far we have only gotten 1.44" of rain, meaning we are .86" of rain behind average. Alma, Georgia is 1.04" below normal and they have only seen a mer .06" of rain this month. The Florida Forest Service is urging the public to avoid yard debris burning due to the elevated fire threat and to use extreme caution when using fire outdoors, including campfires and grills. Since January, the Florida Forest Service has battled 1,475 wildfires that have burned 89,105 acres.

WPLG-TV imageFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - The Florida Forest Service on Tuesday tweeted that a wildfire in the Everglades had grown to 31,500 acres -- nearly the double the size it was on Monday -- and the blaze is only about a third contained. The wildfire is located about eight miles west of the city of Weston. Florida Forest Service officials confirmed lightning started the wildfire Sunday night just north of a busy stretch of Interstate 75 known as Alligator Alley and a few miles west of a state highway. No buildings were in immediate danger. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The Forest Service first reported about 3 p.m. Wednesday that firefighters were working two wildfires off U.S. 17 and Yellow Bluff Road. The south fire was 40% contained by the Forest Service at that time, but it burned into the marsh. The Florida Department of Agriculture is assisting the Forest Service with the investigation into the cause. On the ground and in the air, crews are working around the clock to contain the Yellow Bluff Fire. Winter told News4Jax late Thursday afternoon that three spots of the Yellow Bluff Fire jumped over I-95 at some point.