Updated April 21, 2026, 7:12 p.m. ET
- Early April 21, there have been 113 wildfires have been burning nearly 13,000 acres in Florida.
- Air high quality drops to “unhealthy for sensitive groups” in Gainesville space.
- More than half of Florida’s counties are underneath burn bans because the drought worsens.
The variety of lively wildfires burning throughout Florida continues to go up.
On April 20, there have been 103 wildfires. Twenty-four hours later, the quantity was as much as 113, with the air high quality within the Gainesville space deemed “unhealthy for sensitive groups.”
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As of 8 a.m. April 21, the fires have been burning nearly 13,000 acres, with most within the northern half of the state.
A street in Franklin County was closed at 8 a.m. April 21, in keeping with the Florida Highway Patrol. Others stay open, though smoke can have an effect on visibility in some areas, and the Florida Highway Patrol is urging motorists to make use of warning.
Red flag warnings have been issued for 32 of Florida’s 67 counties, and fire weather watches have been issued for 11 counties.
Here’s what you must know April 21.
Map reveals location of lively wildfires, smoke impacts throughout Florida
As of 8 a.m. April 21, there have been 113 active wildfires burning 12,852 acres throughout Florida.
According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, between Jan. 1 and April 19 in Florida:
- Acres burned: 103,211
- Number of wildfires: 1,797
Are any roads closed as a result of smoke?
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, at 8 a.m. April 21 one street is closed as a result of smoke or fires. Here’s what the FHP has famous on its web site:
- Franklin County: A hearth has been reported at State Road 65 and Sand Beach Road close to Eastpoint. The street is closed; use alternate routes.
- Putnam County: A hearth has been reported at U.S. 17 at Palmetto Bluff close to Palatka. Smoke within the space might trigger visibility points.
- Clay County: A hearth has been reported at U.S. 17 at Crowl Road close to Green Cove Springs. Smoke within the space might trigger visibility points.
- Alachua County: A hearth reported close to State Road 121 north of Northwest thirteenth Street close to Gainesville. Smoke within the space might trigger visibility points.
- Alachua County: Another fireplace has been reported at State Road 26 and County Road 234 close to Gainesville. No visibility points have been reported.
- Columbia County: A hearth has been reported at Northeast Range Road at 278 close to Lake City. No visibility points have been reported.
Smoke affecting air high quality in some Florida counties
According to the EPA, the air high quality within the Gainesville space is unhealthy for delicate teams.
Elsewhere, air high quality ranges from good to average.
➤ See breakdown of air quality by Florida county
How do I defend myself when air high quality is dangerous or if I’ve respiratory issues?
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, here is what you are able to do to protect yourself in case you have respiratory issues or the air quality is bad the place you reside:
If you are at house:
- Close all doorways and home windows.
- If you are working your window air conditioner, set it to recirculation so it stops pulling air from exterior. Regularly change your filter to assist pull any pollution out of the indoor air.
- Consider buying an air air purifier with a HEPA filter for those who reside in an space with frequent air high quality issues, particularly for those who reside with somebody who is especially susceptible to air air pollution.
If it’s a must to go outside:
- Regularly check for air quality updates.
- Limit time exterior as a lot as attainable.
- Wear an N95 masks to filter out particulate matter once you are exterior.
- Change out of your outside garments as quickly as you get house, since particulates can infiltrate the material after which later be inhaled.
Red flag warnings, fireplace climate watches issued for many of Florida
Red flag warnings have been issued for 32 of Florida’s 67 counties, and fire weather watches have been issued for 11 counties.
What is a crimson flag warning?
A crimson flag warning means important fireplace climate circumstances are both occurring now, or will occur throughout the subsequent 24 hours.
In Florida, the criteria used to subject a crimson flag warning embrace:
- Relative humidity: Less than 28%
- Winds: 15 mph or higher
- Energy launch part: 26 or higher
- This is the “total burning potential influenced by fuel moisture and woody fuel.”
What is a hearth climate watch?
A fire weather watch means important fireplace climate circumstances are forecast to happen within the next 24 to 48 hours, in keeping with the National Weather Service.
Any fires that develop will probably unfold quickly. Outdoor burning is just not really helpful.
Current drought circumstances in Florida
The U.S. Drought Monitor on April 14 (the most recent date with knowledge obtainable) supplied the next breakdown on how bad the drought is in Florida:
➤ Strict water use rules sweep the nation ahead of summer
Drought and dryness classes: 99% of Florida
- Abnormally dry: 1.0%
- Moderate drought: 6.2%
- Severe drought: 21.6%
- Extreme drought: 50.9%
- Exceptional drought: 20.2%
Total space in drought: 99%, impacting 18.1 million Florida residents.
The drought monitor mentioned January-March 2026 is the ninth driest interval on file, which date again to 1895.
Burn bans in impact throughout Florida
As of 8 a.m. April 21, burn bans have been issued for 37 of Florida’s 67 counties.
Burning yard particles is at all times prohibited in two counties:
What is a burn ban?
The Florida Forest Service tries combines all county-enacted burn bans on its web site.
A burn ban usually prohibits the skin burning of yard trash and vegetation, in addition to campfires, bonfires and burn barrels, however can fluctuate by county.
➤ Current Florida fire danger map
Burn bans are issued when there is a excessive threat for wildfires and embrace such circumstances as:
What is the Keetch-Byram Drought Index?
The Florida Forest Service and U.S. Forest Service use the Keetch-Byram Drought Index to measure the danger of wildfires primarily based on soil moisture, how dry gas is, and precipitation.
The scale ranges from 0 to 800, with 0 indicating saturated soil and 800 representing excessive drought with a excessive potential for “intense, deep-burning fires.”
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Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect crew. You can get all of Florida’s finest content material straight in your inbox every weekday day by signing up for the free e-newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://tallahassee.com/newsletters.
