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Commissioner Adam Putnam Visits Collier County Wildfires

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Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam today visited the Greenway Fire in Collier County. The Greenway Fire is 16,876 acres and is 50 percent contained.

Currently, there are 52 active wildfires in Florida burning 27,870 acres.

Significant Wildfires in Florida:

  • Greenway Fire (Collier County): 16,876 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • Flag Pond Fire (Collier County): 2,578, 100 percent contained.
  • West Boundary Fire (Hendry County): 2,629 acres and 80 percent contained
  • Firebreak (Gulf County): 2,000 acres and 45 percent contained.
  • Shamrock Dr. Fire (Lee County): 20 acres and 100 percent contained.

Resources Deployed to Southwest Florida:

  • State Firefighting Bulldozers: 11
  • Fire District & State Brush Trucks: 15
  • Fire District Water Tenders: 2
  • State Firefighting Super Huey Helicopter: 1
  • State Firefighter Fixed-Wing: 1

The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to be cautious with fire and heat sources and to remember the following:

  • Develop and implement a family wildfire action plan;
  • Call 911 or a local Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire;
  • Obey Florida’s outdoor burning laws;
  • Never burn on windy days;
  • Always keep a water source and suppression tools on hand when burning yard debris;
  • Never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended; and
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

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.

 

Commissioner Adam Putnam to Visit Collier County Wildfires, Host Media Availability

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MEDIA ADVISORY

Tomorrow, March 28th, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam will visit the Greenway Fire in Collier County and provide an update on wildfire activity and Florida Forest Service response efforts. The Greenway Fire is currently 16,794 acres and 50 percent contained.

Event: Media availability on wildfire activity and response efforts

Date: Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Time: 9:45 a.m.

Location: Florida Forest Service Incident Command Post
950 Sabal Palm Road
Naples, Florida 34114

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com or call 1-800-HELP-FLA.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Update on Wildfire Activity, Response Efforts

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The Florida Forest Service and local first responders continue efforts to contain large wildfires in southwest Florida and across the state. While Florida has received recent rainfall, drought conditions and increased wildfire danger throughout the state are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The Florida Forest Service is currently fighting 41 wildfires across the state.

“Florida’s wildland firefighters are prepared to battle increasingly hazardous wildfires across the state, but it’s imperative that Floridians are cautious with fire to help protect Florida’s residents, natural resources and wildland firefighters,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

Significant Wildfires in Florida:

  • Greenway Fire (Collier County): 16,794 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • West Boundary Fire (Hendry County): 2,800 acres and 50 percent contained
  • Old Blade Line Fire (Polk County): 450 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • Knights Griffin Fire (Hillsborough County): 100 acres and 90 percent contained.

Resources Deployed to Southwest Florida:

  • State Firefighting Bulldozers: 9
  • Fire District & State Brush Trucks: 11
  • City and County Water Tenders: 2
  • State Firefighting Super Huey Helicopter: 1
  • State Firefighting Fixed-Wing: 1

The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to be cautious with fire and heat sources and to remember the following:

  • Develop and implement a family wildfire action plan;
  • Call 911 or a local Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire;
  • Obey Florida’s outdoor burning laws;
  • Never burn on windy days;
  • Always keep a water source and suppression tools on hand when burning yard debris;
  • Never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended; and
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

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. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Provides Update on Wildfire Activity in Collier County, Across State

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The Florida Forest Service and local first responders continue efforts to contain three large wildfires in rural Collier County and more than 45 other wildfires across the state. While Florida has received recent rainfall, drought conditions and increased wildfire danger throughout the state are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. The Florida Forest Service has battled over 700 wildfires across the state in 2018.

“Florida’s wildland firefighters are prepared to battle increasingly hazardous wildfires across the state. Today, the Florida Forest Service is doing everything in its power to suppress and contain current wildfires in anticipation of very poor weather conditions tomorrow, especially in southwest Florida. It’s imperative that Floridians are cautious with fire to help protect Florida’s residents, natural resources and wildland firefighters,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam.

Large Wildfires in Collier County:

The Florida Forest Service is deploying additional aviation and heavy equipment resources to support response efforts to the following wildfires:

  • 116th Avenue Southeast Fire: 8,063 acres and 50 percent contained.
  • Greenway Fire: 7,239 acres and 25 percent contained.
  • West Boundary Fire: 2,800 acres and 50 percent contained.

The Florida Forest Service is urging residents to be cautious with fire and heat sources and to remember the following:

  • Develop and implement a family wildfire action plan;
  • Call 911 or a local Florida Forest Service field unit office immediately in the event of a wildfire;
  • Obey Florida’s outdoor burning laws;
  • Never burn on windy days;
  • Always keep a water source and suppression tools on hand when burning yard debris;
  • Never leave an outdoor fire or hot grill unattended; and
  • Avoid parking vehicles on dry grass.

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. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Alerts Floridians of Heightened Wildfire Danger, Urges Caution

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service urge Floridians to exercise caution due to significantly heightened wildfire risk throughout the state. While Florida has received recent rainfall, drought conditions throughout the state are expected to continue. The Florida Forest Service has battled over 700 wildfires across the state in 2018.

“Florida’s wildland firefighters have proven time and again that they are prepared to put their lives on the line to keep Floridians safe,” said Commissioner Putnam. “Floridians can do their part by keeping preventable human-caused wildfires at bay and preparing their families and homes for wildfire.”

There are currently 41 active wildfires throughout Florida. Most of the wildfires this year have been caused by escaped yard trash burns.

“Many wildfires this year have unfortunately been human-caused,” said Jim Karels, Florida State Forester. “It’s imperative that Floridians are cautious with fire to help protect Florida’s residents, natural resources and wildland firefighters.”

Visit the Florida Forest Service’s wildfire information webpage to view an interactive map of current active wildfires, drought and fire danger forecast information, and a list of current county burn bans.  Floridians can also download the Florida Forest Service’s “FLBurnTools” app to access wildfire conditions in real-time. Prescribed burn practitioners can also use the app to plan and submit authorization requests. The app is now available in Apple’s  App Store and on Google Play.

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. Learn more at FloridaForestService.com.

For more information about the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, visit FreshFromFlorida.com

Commissioner Adam Putnam Thanks Governor Scott for Supporting Budget Priorities

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement today thanking Governor Rick Scott for supporting the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services’ priorities in the state budget:

“I thank Governor Scott for continuing to cut taxes for Florida’s families and businesses and for supporting our budget priorities, including increasing pay for our first responders. The department’s first responders are the best of the best and keep Floridians and visitors safe when lives and property are on the line. They’ve earned this.

“With the Governor’s support, this budget also helps our department protect Florida from wildfire, promote Florida’s agricultural products, support our citrus industry, preserve our natural resources, and much more.”

Commissioner Adam Putnam Thanks the Legislature for Funding Much-Needed Pay Raises for First Responders

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam issued the following statement today thanking the legislature for funding much-needed pay raises for first responders:

“I thank the legislature for standing with our first responders and funding pay raises for our department’s law enforcement officers and wildland firefighters, who are demonstrably underpaid compared to other state and local agencies. These raises will help us recruit and retain the best of the best to keep Floridians and visitors safe when lives and property are on the line.”

Starting pay for the department’s law enforcement officers is $31,880 and the starting pay for Florida Forest Service wildland firefighters is $26,580, substantially less than their counterparts in other state and local agencies resulting in high turnover in these critically important positions. The budget item, pending approval from the Governor, would provide a several thousand dollar increase for each of these positions to bring their pay in line with other competing employers and improve retention.

Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on Updated Citrus Crop Forecast

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the U.S. Department of Agriculture released its monthly citrus crop forecast for the 2017-2018 season:

“Florida’s citrus growers are still recovering from Hurricane Irma’s unprecedented damage, which today’s forecast shows is still unfolding in many groves six months later. Thankfully, Congress recently provided more than $2.3 billion for agricultural assistance, a critical first step to finally getting Florida’s growers long-awaited and desperately needed relief. I will continue to work with the leadership of the USDA, Governor Scott, our congressional delegation and industry representatives to get our growers the relief they need to fully recover.”

The USDA’s forecast today of 45 million boxes of oranges for the 2017-2018 season is down 9 million boxes from the 54 million boxes predicted at the start of the season. Today’s forecast represents a decline of more than 80 percent since the peak of citrus production at 244 million boxes during the 1997-98 season.

In the wake of Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam announced that Florida citrus sustained more than $760 million in damages. In the weeks following Hurricane Irma, Commissioner Putnam joined Governor Rick Scott in Washington D.C to discuss the agricultural damage and to request federal assistance with Florida’s Congressional Delegation. In February, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed a spending bill that included more than $2.3 billion for agricultural assistance.

Statement by Commissioner Adam Putnam on Senate’s Passage of Credit Report Freeze Fee Legislation

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam released the following statement today after the Senate passed the Credit Report Freeze Fee Bill, House Bill 953.

“Protecting consumers’ hard-earned money from criminals is a top priority, and this legislation that removes the fee to freeze credit reports makes it easier for consumers to protect themselves from fraud,” stated Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I thank Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis, Senator Jeff Brandes and Representative Shawn Harrison for spearheading this consumer protection effort.”

The Credit Report Freeze Fee Bill seeks to remove the fee that credit reporting agencies charge Floridians to freeze their credit. The bill also removes the paperwork requirements for victims of identity theft to freeze their credit without a fee.

Commissioner Adam Putnam Recognizes John DeWolfe as the 2017 Forestry Firefighter of the Year

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Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam and the Florida Forest Service recognized Senior Forest Ranger John DeWolfe as the 2017 Forestry Firefighter of the Year. John DeWolfe has served as a wildland firefighter with the Florida Forest Service since September 1997, and he currently serves in the Lakeland District. During last year’s historic wildfire season, which burned more than 260,000 acres, DeWolfe served as the Incident Commander for the Florida Forest Service’s incident management teams in the Lakeland District and the Withlacoochee Forestry Center.

“Our wildland firefighters risk their lives daily to protect Florida’s wildlife and residents from wildfire, and last year they courageously battled one of the most severe wildfire seasons in recent history,” said Commissioner of Agriculture Adam H. Putnam. “I congratulate John on being named the 2017 Forestry Firefighter of the Year and thank him for his selfless service.”

During his 20 years of service, Senior Ranger John DeWolfe has been involved in all aspects of the fire program, including training, emergency response and land management. DeWolfe mentors the next generation of wildland firefighters and leads trainees through Basic Fire Control Training, facilitates numerous training and safety courses, and is an Air Tactical Group Supervisor Trainee in the Aviation Mentoring Program.

“John is a crucial asset to our agency as a wildland firefighter, instructor and leader. He repeatedly demonstrates his commitment to his job and the safety of Floridians,” said Florida State Forester Jim Karels.

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.