After 117 days, Alachua County ended its burn ban on Wednesday as recent rains give reprieve from Florida’s dry conditions.
Gainesville’s forecast currently includes more than a 50% chance of rain for the next week. The Suwannee River Water Management District tracks rainfall at four stations within Alachua County, and the stations reported rainfall of 3.6, 3.4, 4.4 and 1.1 inches over the last five days.
The water management districts remain under water shortage declarations as the groundwater table remains below the 20th percentile.
“While the ban is being lifted, we encourage residents to continue practicing safe and responsible outdoor burning to help prevent accidental fires,” said Alachua County Fire Rescue Chief Harold Theus, who will retire this week.
The lifted burn ban comes after a spring of wildfires around North Central Florida, with two separate fires threatening Gainesville in April and forcing evacuations. Earlier in May, a fire also broke out near Cross Creek and caused smokey conditions across Gainesville and the University of Florida campus.
Alachua County and the Florida Forest Service found that improving conditions significantly reduced the threat of wildfires. Officials pointed to a reduction in the area’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index, which fell to 415 from 618 last week and is expected to keep dropping as rainfall persists.
Still, officials warned that dry conditions could return quickly, especially with warm and windy weather. Alachua County will monitor the situation and could reinstate the burn ban.
Yard burning must still follow the state and local regulations. A guideline is available here.