Martin County saw two brush fires this week, including one sparked by a lightning strike. Both are now fully contained and being monitored by the Florida Forest Service. The Florida Forest Service says the conditions that fuel these fires are not going away anytime soon, but residents should not be alarmed.
David Grubitch, a mitigation specialist and spokesperson with the department, said this is their peak season. He explained that the summertime heat is drying out fine dead fuels, making them receptive and ready to ignite when lightning strikes. Grubitch said rain often extinguishes these fires immediately, but sometimes they travel underground and surface days later. He stressed that residents should never assume someone else has already called in a brush fire, saying if you see something, say something, as it can make all the difference in how quickly crews are able to get a fire under control.