Florida Forest Service - Blackwater Forestry Center

05/19/2026

05/06/2026

🚨 Forecast Drags Wildfire Season into Heart of Summer 🚨

Florida’s already active fire season likely will extend further into the summer, pushing dangerous wildfire conditions past what is typically considered the state’s dry period, according to outlooks released by the National Interagency Fire Center.

04/16/2026

National Arbor Day Tree Giveaways Scheduled

Join us in celebrating National Arbor Day and Earth Day with three events in our district.
Saturday, April 18: In Escambia County, the City of Pensacola is hosting a tree giveaway starting at 10 a.m. at Bayview Park. Available trees include white oak, redcedar, bald cypress, maple, chinquapin, fringe, mayhaw, flatwood plum, pawpaw, and sweetbay.
Wednesday, April 22: Santa Rosa County is hosting a tree giveaway at Bagdad Mill Site Park (6953 Main Street, Bagdad) from 9 a.m. until noon or all trees are gone. The event will include nature-related booths, and water and snacks. Available trees include red maple, Virginia willow/sweetspire, sand live oak, and highbush blueberry in 1-gallon containers. There is a limit of one tree/plant per person/family limit.
Friday, April 24: The town of Century in Escambia County is holding a tree giveaway at the Century Ag Building on Highway 4 from 9 a.m. until trees are gone. Tree species include mayhaw, redbud, sycamore, and sweetbay.
For more information on these events, contact Ashlee White, Santa Rosa County Senior Forester, at [email protected] or (850) 626-3028; or contact Cathy Hardin, Escambia County Senior Forester, at [email protected] or call (850) 587-5237.

04/15/2026

The Florida Forest Service is working a 50-acre wildfire on Blackwater River State Forest and have it 85% contained and there are no structures threatened. The fire is located just south of State Road 4 about 5 miles east of State Road 87.

Crews have lines around the entire fire and there is little to no active flame but with current drought conditions, organic materials in the soil have ignited and are smoldering well beneath the surface causing increased smoke and poor visibility along area roads especially during the early morning hours.

Motorists in the area bounded by SR 4 to the north, SR 87 to the west, Springhill Road to the south and Munson Highway to the east should use extreme caution while driving. If you encounter smoke on the road, slow down, treat it as fog, turn on your low-beam headlights and allow extra space between other vehicles. If visibility becomes too poor to proceed, pull all the way off the road and turn on your emergency flashers.

Firefighters are working to mitigate smoke from this fire using heavy equipment and a complex sprinkler system drawing water from nearby creeks as well as mopping where possible using brush trucks and water tenders.

04/07/2026

Today, during Florida Wildfire Awareness Week, Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service are urging Floridians to take steps now to be prepared for what is forecasted to be an extremely active peak wildfire season.

04/01/2026

🔥 Fire Danger Warnings Explained 🔥

As drought conditions and wildfire dangers continue to grow in Florida, it’s important for visitors and residents to follow any notices and warnings issued locally or regionally.

🔥 Fire Danger Warnings Explained 🔥

As drought conditions and wildfire dangers continue to grow in Florida, it’s important for visitors and residents to follow any notices and warnings issued locally or regionally. Some terms you could see include:

🚩 Red Flag Warning: Issued by the National Weather Service, this notice means warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to produce an increased risk of fire danger. During a Red Flag Warning, fire officials do not recommend any outdoor burning of any type. The Florida Forest Service typically will not issue any burn permits during this time because any fires that escape containment under these conditions can quickly spread out of control.

🚩 Red Flag Fire Alert: Initiated by the Florida Forest Service, this alert is only issued when weather conditions indicate a strong potential for hazardous wildland fire conditions. Red Flag Fire Alerts are designed to alert local fire services, other emergency response personnel, and land managers that a serious wildfire potential exists based on weather conditions, moisture levels of vegetative fuels and availability of fire suppression resources.

🚩 County-Wide Burn Ban: These outdoor burn bans are enacted by their respective counties, not the Florida Forest Service, which is a state agency. Unauthorized outdoor burning during the ban is illegal, and violators could face fines or financial liability for all damages. All open burning authorized by the Florida Forest Service is exempt from this burn ban. The use of small outdoor grills and smokers are exempt from county burn bans.

Stay alert and adhere to any local guidelines during a drought. For up-to-date information on current wildfire conditions in Florida, visit https://tinyurl.com/mt94pdfa.

For more tips on how to prepare for wildfire season, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.

03/24/2026

🔥 Be Prepared as Fire Danger Increases 🔥

With the recent uptick in wildfires throughout the state, the Florida Forest Service is urging residents to use extreme caution with outdoor burning and prepare homes accordingly.

Spring brings warmer temperatures and greener foliage, but the state’s 2026 drought has created hazardous conditions across Florida. April through June is typically the height of the state’s wildfire season.

Now is the best time to create and maintain a buffer around your home that helps slow or stop the spread of wildfire. This defensible space extends 30 to 100 feet from your home and includes landscaping such as grass, trees, shrubs or any wildland area that surrounds it.

For more tips on how to prepare for wildfire season, visit BeWildfireReadyFL.com.

02/05/2026

📝 Applications Now Open for 2026 Florida Forestry Teachers Tour 📝
The Florida Forest Service invites educators across the state to apply for this summer’s Florida Forestry Teachers Tour. This year’s annual tour is scheduled for June 16-19, 2026. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 27, 2026.
The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the forest industry meets the needs of Florida’s communities and the environment, which includes conservation practices and efforts established to keep our state’s forests healthy, renewable, and sustainable for future generations.
“This tour allows educators from around the state to experience a hands-on look at the cultivation of one of Florida’s most important natural resources,” said Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan. “They can then take everything they’ve learned back to the classroom to enlighten another generation.”
The four-day event also earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units (CEU) and includes all aspects of forestry practices. Attendees will visit tree farms to see tree planting and harvesting, then tour a local lumber mill to learn how various wood products are made, plus an assortment of other activities and tours.
Educators of all subjects and grade levels across Florida are encouraged to apply. All lodging, meals, and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Florida Project Learning Tree, and Friends of Florida State Forests.
To apply, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour

📝 Applications Now Open for 2026 Florida Forestry Teachers Tour 📝

The Florida Forest Service invites educators across the state to apply for this summer’s Florida Forestry Teachers Tour. This year’s annual tour is scheduled for June 16-19, 2026. Applications will be accepted through Feb. 27, 2026.

The Florida Forestry Teachers Tour is designed to provide educators with an opportunity to learn how the forest industry meets the needs of Florida’s communities and the environment, which includes conservation practices and efforts established to keep our state’s forests healthy, renewable, and sustainable for future generations.

“This tour allows educators from around the state to experience a hands-on look at the cultivation of one of Florida’s most important natural resources,” said Florida Forest Service Director Rick Dolan. “They can then take everything they’ve learned back to the classroom to enlighten another generation.”

The four-day event also earns Florida teachers 30 Continuing Education Units (CEU) and includes all aspects of forestry practices. Attendees will visit tree farms to see tree planting and harvesting, then tour a local lumber mill to learn how various wood products are made, plus an assortment of other activities and tours.

Educators of all subjects and grade levels across Florida are encouraged to apply. All lodging, meals, and tour transportation are provided at no cost to teachers through the support of private partners and sponsors, including the Florida Forestry Association, Florida Project Learning Tree, and Friends of Florida State Forests.

To apply, visit FloridaStateForests.org/TeachersTour.

01/27/2026

We now are in the peak of season for Northwest Florida, and residents are likely to see smoke from as far as 30 miles away as land managers utilize fire to restore ecosystems, reduce hazardous fuels and improve timber stands.
Prescribed fire is a safe, effective way to manage forest health, reduce hazardous fuel loading and apply a naturally occurring process to the landscape.
How are prescribed fires managed for safety?
• Prescribed burns are planned around the weather and require authorization from the Florida Forest Service. Trained teams manage every step of every fire set.
• Before a burn, professional burn practitioners use computer models and weather data to predict whether smoke could affect sensitive areas like hospitals, nursing homes, roads, and airports. If the smoke is expected to cause problems, the burn plan will be changed.
• Prescribed fires may be planned months in advance, but the final decision to burn typically is made within 24 hours of a prescribed burn after experts check that weather conditions and other site factors are suitable.
• Planning a prescribed fire also includes the designation of personnel and firefighting equipment, a map of fire breaks and burn area boundaries, wind speed and direction for surface and transport winds, the mixing height, relative humidity, temperature, fine fuel moisture, and desired fire behavior.
For more information, go to https://whyprescribedfire.org/ or reach out to your local Florida Forest Service office https://www.fdacs.gov/Forest-Wildfire/Our-Forests/Florida-Forest-Service-Office-Locations/Field-Office-Locations-and-Contacts

01/22/2026

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service announced that $6.3 million is now available to Florida landowners through two cost-share programs to support the state's forests.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2bdemsjz

Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson and the Florida Forest Service announced that $6.3 million is now available to Florida landowners through two cost-share programs to support the state's forests.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2bdemsjz