A 250-acre wildfire broke out in Bradford County on the afternoon of April 21, forcing residents along Deden Loop to evacuate as wind-driven flames spread through drought-parched brush between Deden Loop and Southwest County Road 18. The fire was the most significant to directly threaten Bradford County homes this year, and it came at a moment when state fire officials were calling conditions the worst North Florida has seen since at least 2001.

The Deden Fire

Bradford County Sheriff's deputies confirmed the fire broke out between Deden Loop and Southwest County Road 18 on the afternoon of April 21. Winds pushed the fire quickly, and authorities shut down Deden Loop on both ends of County Road 18 and ordered mandatory evacuation for homes along Deden Loop between Southwest 136th Avenue and Southwest 147th Avenue. Residents were asked to avoid the area as helicopters dropped water on the blaze.

By around 6 p.m., the Florida Forest Service reported the fire had grown to 170 acres. A later update put the final size at 250 acres. By 8:15 p.m., the Bradford County Sheriff's Office announced the mandatory evacuation orders had been lifted and residents could return home. Officials warned that smoky conditions would likely persist through the night, particularly in the corridor between Brooker and Graham, and urged residents to remain alert to changing conditions.

Bradford County and Florida Forest Service crews also contained a separate brush fire in the area of Southwest County Road 18 and 131st Lane that same day, with units remaining on scene to ensure containment lines held. It was not the first fire in that area this spring — a brush fire near Deden Loop in late February burned at least 35 acres and forced a temporary closure of County Road 18 before it was contained.

The Drought Behind the Fire

The Deden Fire did not happen in isolation. It was one of more than 130 wildfires burning across Florida at the same time, collectively consuming nearly 22,000 acres statewide. The Florida Forest Service described conditions as the most dangerous fire environment the state has seen since at least 2001, with 99 percent of Florida classified as unusually dry.

Those conditions trace directly to the extreme drought Bradford County has been under since early 2026. The Suwannee River Water Management District recorded February rainfall running 55 percent below the historical average, and the 12-month deficit through February stood at more than 15 inches. Aquifer levels across the district sat around the 20th percentile. The U.S. Drought Monitor has classified Bradford County and surrounding areas as being in extreme drought — the second most severe category in the federal system.

Low humidity, dry fuel, and wind gusts combined on April 21 to create what forecasters had been calling elevated fire weather conditions across North Central Florida for days. A red flag warning was in effect and extended through Tuesday as the situation developed.

Fires Across the Region

Bradford County was not the only area affected. The Railroad Fire, burning along the Clay-Putnam county line near Bostwick, grew to more than 4,100 acres and was approximately 55 percent contained as of the most recent reports. Hundreds of firefighters from multiple counties and state agencies were deployed to that fire. In Putnam County, the sheriff's office ordered voluntary evacuations for Guthrie Road, Boogerville Road, Hunter Road, and White Tail Trail as crews worked door-to-door to alert residents.

To the west, the Cow Creek Fire in Levy County's Goethe State Forest grew rapidly to more than 700 acres in a matter of hours, spreading southwest and crossing Old Lebanon Road about two miles south of County Road 326. Evacuations were ordered for portions of Levy County as well. The largest fire in the state as of April 21 was the 139 Fire burning near Wilma outside Tallahassee, which had consumed 6,499 acres since its ignition on March 17 and was 50 percent contained.

Burn bans were in effect across more than half of Florida's 67 counties by April 22, including Bradford, Alachua, Columbia, Gilchrist, Levy, Putnam, Marion, and Union counties. The bans prohibit burning of yard waste, trash, and campfires, with violations treated as criminal infractions.

What Residents Should Know

Fire weather conditions are not expected to improve significantly in the near term. Humidity values are forecast to remain in the 30 to 40 percent range, and while wind gusts have relaxed somewhat, the underlying drought conditions that are fueling fire activity across the region are expected to persist for weeks. The Florida Forest Service has warned that the state faces many more weeks of active fire conditions ahead.

Residents in Bradford County — particularly those in rural areas with wooded surroundings — should have a basic plan in place in case conditions change rapidly. That includes knowing your evacuation routes, keeping important documents accessible, and monitoring the Bradford County Sheriff's Office social media and local alerts for updates.

Bradford County News will continue to monitor wildfire conditions and update this story as new information becomes available. Tips and reports from residents can be sent to tips@bradfordcountynews.com.