FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – A burn ban is effective in Flagler County starting at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
The ban remains in effect for seven days.
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Flagler County declared a state of local emergency to enact the ban.
“The conditions are becoming favorable for rapid fire growth so this action will help,” said Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker. “In addition to the ban on burning, remember that a good offense is the best defense. Clear the area around your house of anything that will go up in flames easily – including stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks, and dead, dry vegetation.”
What does it mean
The burn ban prohibits the following:
- Discharge/use of fireworks, sparklers, flares, or other items containing any “explosive compound”
- Open burning, including the use of fire pits and containers
- Outdoor cookers and grills unless continuously attended by an adult
- Throwing matches, cigarettes, or other burning materials from vehicles
- Parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grassy areas
The county’s code allows it to declare an emergency to set a burn ban for seven days, and then extend the ban in seven-day intervals.
During the ban, the county can waive some political procedures and formalities.
The current Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) mean is expected to exceed 500 for Flagler County on Wednesday, and there is no significant rainfall forecast for the next seven days.
The KBDI is a range from 0 to 800, with 0 as the wettest condition and 800 as the driest -- or drought.
What should you do
The National Fire Protection Association says all flammable items within 30 feet of a structure should be removed, and homeowners should clear roofs, eaves, gutters, wood decks and patios of leaves, needles, and other debris to protect their homes.
“Additionally, do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead of grass or mulch,” Tucker said. “Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far, and tend to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves accumulate.”
Barbecue coals should be fully extinguished before adding them to garbage receptacles.
“Please take this burn ban seriously,” Tucker said. “It’s been about a year since we’ve had one in Flagler County, so please heed our warnings.”
To see the entirety of the burn ban restrictions, visit www.FlaglerCounty.gov/emergency and click on Emergency Notices.
