DELRAY BEACH, Fla. — A wildfire tore through nearly 20,000 acres of rural land in southwest Palm Beach County before crews were able to bring it under control, according to the Florida Forest Service.
Fire crews contained the Berger Wildfire on July 25 after it burned through 19,700 acres near the Rotenberger Wildlife Management Area, a sawgrass marsh located about 14 miles west of U.S. Highway 27.
The fire was first spotted on July 17 and was sparked by natural causes, according to wildfire tracking data.
Residents in nearby Belle Glade could see the smoke from a distance. Photos shared on social media on July 20 showed heavy smoke rising from the area, visible for miles.
The Berger Wildfire is part of a bigger pattern this year. The Florida Forest Service says the state’s wildfire season is stretching later into the summer than usual.
Since the start of 2026, more than 40,560 wildfires have burned over 3.8 million acres nationwide, according to the National Interagency Fire Center. In Florida alone, more than 2,600 wildfires have broken out since January, scorching more than 155,000 acres statewide.
Drought conditions are a big part of the problem. Florida is currently dealing with one of its worst droughts in years, and officials say that’s helping fuel the fires.
The Florida Forest Service explained that while drought conditions have lingered since late 2025, the state’s usual wildfire season falls between April and June. This year is different. Based on outlooks from the National Interagency Fire Center, the agency expects wildfire risk to stay above average through July and possibly into August.
For residents in western Palm Beach County, that means the danger isn’t over yet, and conditions could remain dry and fire-prone for weeks to come.
