UPDATE, BURN BAN NO LONGER IN EFFECT - Burn Ban issued for Citrus County, FL due to prolonged drought
Citrus County Fire Rescue (CCFR)
www.citrusbocc.com/departments/fire_rescue/index.php
June 10, 2024, 3:21 pm
www.citrusbocc.com/departments/fire_rescue/index.php
June 10, 2024, 3:21 pm
As Citrus County continues experiencing dry weather conditions due to a prolonged lack of rainfall, the Citrus County Fire Chief Craig Stevens has issued an official burn ban. This is due to ordinance no. 2024-A05, "When dry weather conditions result in a Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reading at 500 or higher, a drought emergency shall automatically go into effect and a burn ban will automatically activate."
The KBDI index is a continuous reference scale used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale begins at zero, which reflects no danger, and rises to 800, which reflects extreme danger. The current KBDI for Citrus County is 505.
The burn ban applies to all unincorporated areas of Citrus County. Such burn ban shall be automatically deactivated after the Keeth-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) has fallen below 500 for at least seven (7) consecutive days.
The Burn Ban Includes:
• Campfires.
• Bonfires.
• Unpermitted controlled burns.
• Burning of yard and household trash.
• Burning of construction debris.
• Burning of organic debris.
• Igniting of fireworks.
The Burn Ban DOES NOT include:
• This burn ban DOES NOT apply to commercial burning authorized by the Florida Forest Service.
• The burn ban does NOT prohibit residential outdoor cooking, provided the cooking is done on a suitable piece of equipment designed to contain the fire, flame and heat generated. Outdoor cooking may also be done in any public or private place where there are facilities designed for outdoor cooking which would contain the heat, flames, or fire generated by outdoor cooking.
Burn Ban Violations:
• Any violation by any person of any requirement or provision of this article shall be prosecuted in the same manner as misdemeanors are prosecuted. Upon conviction, any person violating any requirement or provision of this article shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment in the county jail not to exceed 60 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.