There has been a drought in Marion County in Florida. Since Oct. 1 the central Florida county has experienced a rainfall deficit of five inches.
In addition to a warm autumn, a winter cold spell freeze-dried the grass. Now there have been wildfires in the grass.
Last week the wildfires burned 300 acres of grass in Marion County. The region's fire threat remains high for the fourth consecutive year,
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officials said.
Most of those fires started from illegal burns that were not in approved mesh-covered barrels or pits, she said.
There has been a 32-inch rainfall deficit in the county since the beginning of the drought in April 1998.
Officials have asked residents to stop burning in their backyards until the threat passes.
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2007 McGraw-Hill Higher Education