Florida seeks federal help with wildfires
Florida seeks federal help with wildfires
27 May 2007
published by www.fs-world.com
USA — Florida’s governor has asked for a federal state of emergency to dealwith the damage from drought and wildfires.
Florida is entering its third month of drought and wildfires which haveerupted in 57 of 67 Florida counties, burning across 350,026 acres since January.
State and local authorities, including the Florida National Guard, now arefighting 206 wildfires.
Traditionally, states only qualify for federal assistance after the wildfiresare approved under a fire declaration. But with the severe drought conditions,the situation is dangerous enough to approve federal money now to remove debrisfrom threatened areas.
