- December 16, 2025
The short-term drought index shows Flagler County “right on the edge” of moderate to severe fire danger, Mike Kuypers, of the Florida Division of Forestry, told the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners Monday March 5. But long-term, that forecast gets a lot more worrisome.
“My personal feeling is that (the fires are) probably going to be as active as last year, if not more,” Kuypers said. “Probably as severe as ’98, but we hope not.”
Mitigation efforts — such as control burns and mowing, which took place mostly in Palm Coast — were a major contributor last year in keeping flames at bay, he added, but securing outside resources remains a concern.
“I bring this up because, if you remember in 1998, we had to bring in resources from all over the United States,” Kuypers told the board, adding that federal aid is generally not offered unless subdivisions are threatened.
Nationally, only 22 water tanker planes are available, as well.
“Pretty much the entire peninsula of Florida is predicted above normal (drought) conditions,” Kuypers said, showing a map with most of Florida colored in red, signifying “above normal” significant-fire potential.
Ideally, he added, Flagler will be hit with a tropical storm in May, which would moisten the ground. But storms are not expected.
For more, see the Wednesday print edition of the Palm Coast Observer.
