This past weekend was a scorcher in more ways than one. In fact, Division of Forestry officials say 86 new fires were reported from Friday thru Sunday, including 43 in North Central Florida.

State fire officials estimate there are now nearly 200 fires burning statewide, totaling over 60,000 acres of burning land.

All it takes is one lightning strike to start a raging brushfire. While most of the 43 lightning causing wildfires in North Central Florida were contained to an acre or two, a few like the wildfire still burning in the Goethe State Forest have already burned several hundred acres.

While almost all of the fires in our area are contained, fire officials warn this doesn't necessarily mean they are extinguished. State and local firefighters continue to monitor the fires to make sure they don't flare back up, especially during the mid-afternoon hours.

"That's when the temperatures are the highest, the conditions are driest, and we start seeing the winds shift and change due to the sea breezes moving in."

Since firefighters already have their hands full trying to battle fires started by lightning, Division of Forestry officials ask that people use caution when burning.

Division of Forestry officials said they have people stationed in all of their fire towers, and are doing air patrols to try and spot wildfires before they spread. Fire officials want to remind everyone living in Alachua, Marion, Bradford, and Putnam counties that you are under a mandatory burn ban.