Alachua County issued a burn ban on Friday after indicators placed the county at risk for wildland fire spread. The ban will last through Friday, Feb. 6.  

Several factors, including weather conditions, are used to determine whether to activate and deactivate county-wide burn bans. Two of those factors are the KBDI and FDI scores.

• Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) – estimates the dryness of the soil and duff layers 
• Fire Danger Indices (FDI) – potential for a fire to start and require suppression activities

According to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Alachua County’s KBDI value has increased to the range of (500-549), which places the County at risk for wildland fire spread.

The county-wide burn ban prohibits all types of unpermitted and/or non-exempted open incineration where the burning of any matter results in the products of combustion being emitted directly into the outdoor atmosphere without passing through a stack or chimney. This includes, but is not limited to: campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of construction debris, burning of organic debris, and igniting of fireworks.

Exemptions:

• Use of barbeque grills or barbeque pits where the total fuel area does not exceed 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height.
• Any other activity for which a valid state open burn authorization has been issued by the Florida Forest Service, Department of Environmental Protection, or the City of Gainesville. 
  Any unauthorized burning within the County during the imposed ban will be in violation of Alachua County ordinance number 362.50 as codified under Article III of the Alachua County Code of Ordinances and Chapter 252 of Florida Statutes. Any person violating any of the provisions of this article shall be liable for all damages caused by such violation, which damages shall be recoverable in any court of competent jurisdiction, as well as the costs associated with suppressing and extinguishing the fire.

The liability for the costs of suppression may extend to the person, firm, or corporation causing, directing or permitting the activity, as well as the actual violator.

Read the burn order ban by clicking here.

For more information, contact Alachua County Fire Rescue at 352-384-3101.