VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — With 57 active wildfires burning throughout the Sunshine State, 15 of them are in Volusia County, according to a map from the Florida Forest Service. On Thursday night, the number was at 18.

Volusia County firefighters are busy monitoring multiple wildfires and fire officials say dry conditions are expected to keep fire risks high.

The Double Gate Fire has burned more than 3,200 acres near Tiger Bay State Forest. As of Thursday night, it remains 90% contained.

In total statewide, Florida's agriculture commissioner said fires have burned a total of 35,000 acres. 

"While Florida is the lightning capital of the nation, arson and escaped yard debris burning are the two leading causes of wildfires in Florida," explained Wilton Simpson, the state's agriculture commissioner. 

The Florida Forest Service stated it has been an active wildfire season in compared to years past, more than 1,000 wildfires statewide since January. The state's fire season is between March and June.

Understanding the dangers of dry conditions

For Florida Forest Service wildfire mitigation specialist Julie Allen, the day starts at 4 a.m., just so she can keep up.

In her eight years with the service, she says the current situation in Florida has let to the most wildfire activity she’s seen.

“This is a significant increase of activity that we’ve seen this time of year in the Bunnell District,” Allen said, noting that there have been more than 1,000 wildfires since January across the state thanks to dry conditions.

“We are in a bit of a drought here in Central Florida," she said. "We have not received the rainfall we typically get in the months of January and February, so right now in Volusia County there are 18 active wildfires that our wildland firefighters are responding to."

One of those is the Double Gate fire in the Tiger Bay State Forest. Allen said it was all hands on deck for the Florida Forest Service crews fighting that fire, which has led them to lean on other agencies to monitor other sites.

“As you can see today, we rely on our partnering agencies like Daytona Beach Fire Department too assist us in mop-up operations, and/or putting out hot spots on wildfires,” she said on Thursday.

According to Allen, experts have determined that most of these fires were caused by people.

“So right now we are just asking folks, if its not necessary, lets refrain from burning," she said. "Let’s use caution when it comes to mowing our grass because your mower could hit a rock, on spark could start a wildfire so we are just asking folks to be very cognizant of the use of fire during this time." 

She said it is important for people to report smoke or flames the moment they see them.

“Report it immediately, because the longer you wait, that could determine how out of control that wildfire could potentially get," said Allen

According to Volusia County officials, dry conditions are being monitored ahead of the weekend, but they say there is currently no burn ban in effect in the county.

For drivers dealing with smoky conditions caused by wildfires, the Florida Highway Patrol warned that "visibility can change within seconds," and urged people to be aware of their surroundings.

FHP released the following tips for driving in smoky conditions:

• Drive with lights on low beam. High beams will only be reflected off the fog and impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.
  
  
• Slow down and watch your speedometer before you enter a patch of fog.

• Watch out for slow-moving and parked vehicles. Open you window a little and listen for traffic you cannot see.

• Reduce the distractions in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone. Your full attention is required.

• Use wipers and defrosters liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.
  
  
• Use the right edge of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
  
  
• Be patient and avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
  
  
• Signal turns well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.
  
  
• Do not stop on a freeway or heavily traveled road. You could become the first link in a chain-reaction collision. If you must pull off the road, signal, then carefully pull off as far as possible and turn your hazard lights on.