Friends of Florida State Forests

08/14/2026

07/20/2026

📷 Photo Contest Winner 📷

Congratulations to this quarter’s photo contest winner – Lisa Braswell! This piece, titled “Sweetwater Trail Bridge” was taken at Blackwater River State Forest.

To enter or learn more about our photo contest, visit https://tinyurl.com/f45js6vw.

05/15/2026

Today, Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson highlighted new findings from a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences study demonstrating that Florida’s forest industry supported more than 103,000 jobs and generated nearly $29 billion in total economic output in 2023, reinforcing the industry’s vital role in the state’s economy and rural communities.

Learn more: https://tinyurl.com/2s3mzb22

05/06/2026

04/28/2026

📷 Photo Contest Winner 📷

Congratulations to this quarter’s photo contest winner – Anthony Seanor! This piece, titled “Some Kind of Warbler,” was taken at Jennings State Forest, located southwest of Jacksonville.

To enter or learn more about our photo contest, visit https://tinyurl.com/f45js6vw.

03/31/2026

🔥 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. 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.