"No time to wallow in the mire"

It's been a while...Fires burn throughout Florida but it seems that many burn in the central part of the state year after year. Florida is a landscape that needs fire, but not really like this. Beginning back in the early 1900's we started to fight fire. We ran out all of the natives, and cut down all the trees. This-among other things, created the problems that we face today... Development of course didn't help. Then there's climatic changes; La Niña, El Niño, and burritos; all affect the fire regime. Continued drought in Florida has lead to "tinderbox" conditions. The shot above was taken at 1.00 am, that gives you some perspective on the conditions. A fire usually lays down at night, but stiff winds and extra-dry conditions let this one cook. My main concern while shooting this was not fire, it was alligators and snakes. Indian Lake has a few, and I was standing in waist high vegetation and a half-foot of water. Man, I go to great lengths to get these incredible shots! Whew... Wild and Woolly ©