BELL, Fla. (WCJB) - Firefighters battled a wildfire in Gilchrist County on Thursday afternoon. Florida Forest Service officials say the fire has burned 330 acres east of Highway 129 near Bell. As of this report, the blaze was 60 percent contained.

A smoky haze has settled over parts of Broward County as winds push smoke from a wildfire burning south of Lake Okeechobee into the region on Thursday.

Florida Commissioner of Agriculture Wilton Simpson announced today that the Florida Forest Service is deploying a Complex Incident Management Team (CIMT) of 35 highly trained personnel to assist South Carolina in managing a dramatic increase in wildfires.

More than two dozen counties across central and southern Florida were warned of elevated fire weather risks on Thursday.

Firefighters on the Treasure Coast prepared for Red Flag Day Thursday and were ready to respond. Fortunately, no issues were reported. Forest rangers actively monitored weather conditions throughout the day. A Red Flag Warning indicates the potential for large and fast-moving fires if conditions are favorable.

If Southern California Edison is found liable for massive property losses and depletes most of the state fund, experts wonder what will happen the next time.

Wednesday starts warm and windy before showers and storms become active in Central Florida. Scattered to numerous showers and storms are expected to begin around 11 a.m., according to NWS Melbourne. The showers are expected to hit Lake and Volusia counties early on before sweeping southeast.

Florida Atlantic University researchers explore how removing dead wood can reduce wildfire risk and enhance carbon storage.

A century of fire suppression, climate change, and drought has worsened wildfires in the Western U.S. While prescribed burns help reduce fuel, a “fire deficit” increases wildfire risks, with significant health and environmental impacts.