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The 2026 wildfire season has roared to life - and this year's early outbreak isn't occurring in the typical California or Texas hot spots. Instead, much of drought-stricken Florida has landed in the crosshairs of numerous wildfires. Warm temperatures, low humidity and bone-dry vegetation have spurred this week's explosion. The active wildfires are heavily concentrated in Northern Florida and the Panhandle, with a few burning in South Florida. The Central Florida wildfires have largely been contained as of Thursday morning.The Tallahassee Democrat reported that the statewide number of active wildfires had jumped from 103 on April 20 to 135 on April 22. They have collectively burned 20,760 acres across the Sunshine State., according to the Florida Forest Service. A massive force of ground-based firefighting resources, along with aerial firefighting assets, continues to attack the spreading infernos. Collectively, the firefighting crews are making steady progress. The forest service posted on social media, warning drone pilots and other aviators, that rescue operations need to be prioritized right now in the Florida sky. "Any disruption or hindrance can delay suppression efforts at a time when every second is important," the post stated. "Interfering with wildfire operations is dangerous and illegal. Individuals who do so may face civil penalties and criminal prosecution."
A drone collided with a firefighting Super Scooper aircraft in January 2025 during the Palisades wildfire in California, damaging the plane and triggering an FBI investigation. Aviators should be aware of all active TFRs and check NOTAMs before flight to avoid Fire Traffic Areas (FTAs).Find the latest NOTAMs and TFRs in the GlobalAir.com Airport Resource Center.Florida's Extreme Drought Sparks WildfiresThe state's historic drought has spurred widespread wildfire development, according to the Florida State University (FSU) FSView. The U.S. Drought Monitor shows 80% of the state is experiencing extreme drought or worse. The other 20% is in the worst category for exceptional drought. Assistant State Climatologist Emily Powell said Florida's drought is due to the lack of rain. "The current drought has been caused by persistent below-normal rainfall, and that lack of rainfall is what typically drives drought development here in Florida," she said. "Our current dry season, which extends from about October through mid-May, began below normal in much of the state, and below-normal rainfall continued through winter and now into spring," Although parts of Florida often cross the extreme drought threshold, having almost the entire state at this level is unprecedented. As the dry season continues, Florida's wetlands, containing rotting vegetation known as peat, gradually dry out. When the peat becomes excessively dry, it can catch on fire. FSU Wakulla Springs Lab Communications Director Kellie Keys said peat can become "rocket fuel." "In this type of drought, even the wetlands dry up, which makes much more fuel for wildfires, since wetlands are very full of fuel," she said. "There is more material in wetlands that can burn for a longer period of time in conditions like this." She said smoke-induced "super fog" can make for treacherous driving conditions: "These fires create something called ‘super fog,' or a heavy, dense smoky fog on the roads. ... In severe cases, drivers may be unable to see 10 feet in front of their vehicles, drastically increasing the risk of collisions."Much of Florida's interior consists of forests and fields. A good portion of the land lacks paved or gravel roads necessary for firefighting on the ground. When a wildfire breaks out, firefighting aircraft are key to knocking down the fire's potentially rapid spread.
Florida state officials engaged in substantial pre-wildfire season planning, placing firefighting equipment around the state before the fires ignited, providing rapid deployment when needed. Florida added 10 brand-new firefighting helicopters and a drone fleet to the state's aerial firefighting resources, according to State Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson. Drones provide visual footage of dangerous fire scenes, giving fire managers eyes in the sky when they're needed most.The Clay-Putnam County Fire: A Real-world Aerial Firefighting Win
WJCT Public Media's Jacksonville Today detailed firefighters' ongoing assault on 11 Northeast Florida wildfires. Some have burned for several days, triggering evacuations as local and state firefighting crews called for aerial and bulldozer support. Near Jacksonville, the Clay-Putnam County Fire response has shown how effective coordination of state and federal aerial firefighting resources can be a game-changer - especially on large-scale fires in difficult-to-access terrain.Late Monday, the 1,000-acre Railroad Complex fire in Clay County joined with another fire near West Tocoi in Putnam County. Clay County Fire Chief Lorin Mock said the addition of over a dozen fire bulldozers and firefighting aircraft enabled substantial progress."The air assets yesterday were essential. That support was phenomenal and stopped cold the fire progression in a high fire danger time," he said. "We were in red flag conditions with very high winds, and frankly, without that support, we would not be standing here. … We are maintaining structural protection. The Forest Service has literally created interstate highways along fire lines."Federal and State Aerial Firefighting Units Respond
To stop the mammoth Clay-Putnam County Fire's relentless advance, well-coordinated aerial firefighting resources were strategically deployed across Northeast Florida. Jacksonville's WJXT reported that the Florida Forest Service deployed two fixed-wing aircraft. The Florida National Guard Aviation team would join the firefighting effort on Tuesday.
The federal government also provided robust aerial firefighting resources. Because of the fire's magnitude and rapid, unpredictable spread, three Very Large Air Tankers (or VLATs) responded. A firefighting helicopter, along with multiple water-scooping aircraft, also joined the all-hands assault on the inferno. Because fire conditions are constantly changing, aerial firefighting resources will be redeployed accordingly.
Mock emphasized that extinguishing the massive Clay-Putnam County Fire will likely require multiple firefighting resources and sustained efforts. "We are going to have extensive fire conditions throughout the woods for days and potentially weeks ahead until we get either substantial rainfall or we can work it and get it to darken down," he said. "Given these dry conditions - the heat and the fire within the ground can actually come up for days or weeks beyond this event."Aerial Firefighting: A View From the Ground
During an intensive wildfire response, aerial firefighting resources management deservedly grabs the lion's share of attention. That said, residents in fire-threatened areas recognize the game-changing benefits aerial firefighting aircraft bring to the fire scene. Jacksonville-based WJAX-TV detailed one waterfront resident's observations. Living on the St. Johns River, Putnam County resident Jesse McRae has watched firefighting aircraft refilling their tanks from the river. "It's exciting to see," he said. Florida National Guard's State Army Aviation Officer Col. Brett Rhodenizer also lauded the aircrews' contributions."These are soldiers who yesterday may have been sitting beside you in your community," he said, emphasizing the water-carrying potential. "You'll see these other helicopters or fire bombers with different capacities, but when you think about these National Guard aircraft, it's magnitudes more water."
Aerial Firefighting Crews' Efforts Are Paying OffAs many as six aerial firefighting crews have fought the Clay-Putnam County Fire, which was 4,440 acres large and 50% contained as of Thursday morning, compared to just five percent on Monday. Rhodenizer affirmed the value aerial firefighting crews are bringing to this massive firefighting challenge."You're seeing the effectiveness today. You're seeing the containment, you know, the containment go up, the smoke go down," he said. "Those are the outcomes that we're looking for."