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Florida's Wildfire Awareness Week about to kick off

Jacksonville, FL — Florida's Wildfire Awareness Week is about to kick off.

The Florida Forest Service says the state's Wildfire Awareness Week runs from April 5 through April 11, as spring and early summer are the peak of our year-round wildfire season.

"Wildfire Awareness Week is an important reminder of the devastating effect wildfires can have on our communities and natural resources. As we continue to navigate through these difficult and uncertain times, it's critical for everyone to be aware, use extreme caution, and follow the law, ensuring the safety of your family, communities, and our firefighters," says Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.

Fried's office says the leading causes of wildfires this time of year are escaped yard debris burning and unauthorized debris burns.

To help prevent wildfires, you should:

• Never leave a fire unattended;

• Never burn on windy days or when humidity is below 30 percent;

• Keep a water source and suppression equipment on-hand;

• Completely extinguish the fire before leaving it.

According to Fried's office, since January nearly 750 wildfires have burned more than 8,200 acres in Florida.

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