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US

Exhausted firefighters battle Florida blazes

smoke
Smoke hangs over a road in Volusia County on Tuesday  

Fires also in New Mexico, Texas

June 23, 1998
Web posted at: 11:49 a.m. EDT (1549 GMT)

ORMOND BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Weary firefighters continued to battle wildfires across Florida Tuesday as weather forecasters said hot, dry temperatures would continue.

"Our guys are flat exhausted," said Joe Wooden, spokesman with Volusia County.

He said 42 more firefighters had arrived to help battle 11 fires.

Monday night, firefighters ordered residents out of their Ormond Beach homes but allowed them back in Tuesday morning.

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Firefighters battle the Florida blazes
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In Volusia County, at least 26,000 acres of farmland have been charred since Memorial Day. Statewide, more than 100,000 acres have burned and every county but one has been declared a disaster area.

State officials said an unusually dry spring has contributed to the problem. So far this year, Florida has received an average of 3 inches of rain, where 12 is the norm.

firefighters
With an average of 80 new fires a day, it's hard for firefighters to keep up  

Wooden said the fires in Volusia County were mostly in rural areas. He said in addition to the firefighters brought in Tuesday morning, another 60 were expected to arrive Tuesday afternoon.

Cattle ranchers are particularly concerned because the heat and smoke are especially tough on their animals, Wooden said.

U.S. Forest Service officials said fires in remote wilderness areas are being contained but firefighters are not attempting to put them out. In more populated areas, firefighters are working aggressively to beat back the flames.

Most fires started by lightning

fires
Millions of dollars of commercial timber have been scorched  

The state is seeing an average of 80 new fires a day, 90 percent of them started by lightning.

The blazes have destroyed more than 100 homes and structures, damaged an estimated $10 million in commercial timber and left a smoky haze in cities such as Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Tallahassee and Orlando. Another $100 million in crop damage has been caused by the stifling heat.

At least 17 people have been injured.

State Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford has urged all 67 counties to suspend July 4th fireworks displays because of dangerously dry conditions. Nine counties have imposed a ban; at least eight others are considering similar action.

trees on fire
More than 100,000 acres have burned since Memorial Day  

Fires also in New Mexico, Texas

Similarly dry conditions in northern New Mexico fed an 80-acre fire that roared through pine trees and forced some 300 people from their homes near Angel Fire, a mountain resort.

Evacuees were awaiting word whether they could return to their homes after firefighters corralled the flames. Village administrator David King said the fire, reported Sunday evening, was started by a person.

In Texas, Bexar County joined the list of counties that have issued bans on outdoor burning.

More than 50 brush fires have blackened 355 acres in the San Antonio area since June 14.

Correspondent Susan Candiotti and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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