Florida meteorologists told emergency officials Monday is approaching drought conditions – the state last saw in 1954 and 1955.<\/p>\n
And if you lived in Florida in the late 90s – you may remember when the state saw devastating fires, that burned 500,000 acres across Florida.<\/p>\n
Under the right conditions, a wildfire can start quickly.<\/p>\n
The formula: a Spark, like a cigarette butt + Fuel like dry grass + Oxygen = a fire that starts and then strong winds, drought and heat plus low humidity can keep that wildfire going to devastating consequences – like the wildfires of 1998.<\/p>\n
RELATED: FROM THE VAULT: 1998 report on Westside wildfire<\/a><\/p>\n The fires of 1998, called the \u201cFlorida Firestorms,\u201d lasted from April to July, burning almost 500,000 acres. FEMA reported of 300 million in timber loss alone and an additional 80 million in firefighting.<\/p>\n From Jacksonville to Titusville – I-95 was closed on July 4th. Fireworks were banned. The counties along I-95 were impacted the most.<\/p>\n News4Jax viewers remember it too. Comments poured into our Facebook page – some include:<\/p>\n \u201cI was on the front line in 98 south of Green Cove…I would go help fight this fire if they need me once a firefighter always a firefighter.\u201d – William Meeks III.<\/p>\n \u201cFirefighters saved my house in Volusia County. It came within 8ft of our door. Burned all our property. Forever grateful…\u201d- Jan Johnston Klindt Consiglio.<\/p>\n \u201cI remember the ash that rained down on us in Middleburg from those 98\u2032 fires\u201d- Ashley Fitzmeyer. <\/p>\n MORE: Railroad Fire grows to 3,000 acres, draws response from Florida National Guard<\/a><\/p>\n The wildfires in Clay and Putnam County right now are not as bad, but they\u2019ve brought flashbacks for some long-term first responders. <\/p>\n Clay County Fire Rescue Chief Lorin Mock said he experienced similar conditions in 1998, when he served as Chief of Operations for Jacksonville Fire and Rescue.<\/p>\n \u201cI told crews last night these conditions remind me of the rapid-fire progression we saw then,\u201d Mock said.<\/p>\n Kevin Guthrie, the Executive Director of Florida Emergency Management, was working with the Jacksonville Sheriff\u2019s Office during the 1998 wildfires \u2014 and said he remembers it vividly.<\/p>\n \u201cWe were up and down Interstate 95 doing traffic roadblocks. I was assigned to the traffic unit at the time,\u201d Guthrie said.<\/p>\n Now, he\u2019s monitoring the 2026 wildfire season.<\/p>\n \u201cI told Chief Mock \u2014 who I worked for at one point in Jacksonville \u2014 this has a very \u201998 feel to it,\u201d Guthrie said. \u201cThe difference is we\u2019ve got a lot more technology now.\u201d<\/p>\n Guthrie said first responders are working around the clock to stay ahead of the fires and keep them under control, using newer tools and strategies.<\/p>\n And for those who lived through 1998, there\u2019s one thing they agree on: they don\u2019t want to go through it again.<\/p>\n Click here<\/a> for all state resources for wildfires and maps. <\/p>\n