Polk County Fire Rescue issues countywide burn ban amid dry conditions

The Ledger
·2 min read

Polk County Fire Rescue has issued an official burn ban amid dry conditions.

The current increased risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires is a threat to Polk County’s safety, and the dry conditions show no signs of easing in the near future, PCFR said in a news release.

The ban comes in the wake of a 1,000-acre brush fire near River Ranch that destroyed about 200 outbuildings in Southeast Polk.

The burn ban includes campfires, bonfires, unpermitted controlled burns, burning of yard and household trash, burning of construction debris, burning of organic debris, lighting of fireworks and noncommercial burning of materials other than for religious or ceremonial purposes, in which case they must be contained in a barbecue grill or barbecue pit, and the total fuel area cannot exceed three feet in diameter and two feet in height.

The Florida Forestry Service posted this photo to Twitter showing part of a 1,000-acre brush fire in southeast Polk this week.
The Florida Forestry Service posted this photo to Twitter showing part of a 1,000-acre brush fire in southeast Polk this week.

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More than half of Polk County is averaging over 501 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, a continuous reference scale used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale ranges from zero to 800, which reflects extreme danger.

The burn ban applies to all unincorporated Polk County and to Auburndale, Eagle Lake, Lake Alfred, Mulberry, Lake Hamilton, Haines City, Hillcrest Heights, Polk City, Winter Haven, Davenport, Dundee, Lakeland, Bartow, Frostproof, Fort Meade and Highland Park.

Violations can be punished by up to 60 days in jail and a fine of up to $500.

“Polk County Fire Rescue has held off as long as we possibly can on issuing this burn ban,” Polk County Fire Rescue Chief Hezedean A. Smith said in the release. “The current dry conditions are favorable for the rapid development and spread of brush fires throughout the County. Ensuring the safety of every resident and visitor throughout Polk County and minimizing the likeliness for loss of property county wide are top priorities for Polk County Fire Rescue.”

This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk County Fire Rescue issues burn ban for county amid dry conditions