ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County has issued a countywide burn ban effective immediately through April 27, 2026, due to extreme drought conditions and elevated wildfire risk across Northeast Florida. Officials warn the ban may be extended if hazardous conditions persist.
The burn ban was enacted through an Emergency Order signed by Board of County Commissioners Chair Clay Murphy in response to what officials describe as increasingly dangerous fire conditions across the region.
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What the ban prohibits
Under the order, all outdoor burning is prohibited, including yard debris burning, campfires, bonfires and unattended open flames. Residents are also urged to avoid any activity that could ignite a fire — including improper disposal of cigarettes, use of fireworks or parking vehicles on dry grass.
“Public safety is our top priority,” said Joy Andrews, St. Johns County administrator. “These dry conditions mean even a small spark could put homes, residents, and first responders at risk. We are asking every resident to take this burn ban seriously and make safe choices so we can protect our neighborhoods and keep our community safe.”
Why conditions are so dangerous
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index, or KBDI, for St. Johns County currently exceeds 500 — a threshold that indicates very dry soil conditions and a high potential for wildfire ignition and spread. Nearly all of St. Johns County is currently classified under Extreme Drought, designated as D3, by federal monitoring agencies.
Current conditions reflect one of the driest starts to a year on record for St. Johns County, ranking as the 18th driest year-to-date in the past 132 years. Officials say these conditions have significantly increased the likelihood of fast-moving wildfires.
“Due to the extremely dry conditions, we’re experiencing across our area, and no significant forecast for rain over the next 10 days, the risk for wildfire is significantly elevated,” said Sean McGee, St. Johns County Fire Rescue chief. “Out of an abundance of caution and to protect our community, a burn ban is being issued effective immediately. We want the public to know that our crews are trained, equipped, and prepared to respond, but prevention is our strongest tool. We’re asking everyone to take this seriously and do their part to reduce the risk of wildfire.”
A series of escalating safety measures
St. Johns County has been monitoring worsening drought conditions for months, implementing a series of escalating public safety and conservation measures. Those steps include a Phase 1 Water Shortage Declaration in February 2026, elevated wildfire risk messaging, a Phase 2 Water Shortage Declaration in March 2026, public outreach tied to Water Conservation Month in April and public education on Red Flag Warning conditions.
The local burn ban also aligns with statewide emergency actions. On April 10, 2026, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis extended a State of Emergency originally issued Feb. 9, 2026, citing ongoing drought conditions, increased wildfire activity and agricultural impacts following severe winter weather. The order renewed emergency provisions for an additional 60 days to support continued response efforts across Florida.
How to stay informed
St. Johns County Emergency Management encourages residents to stay up to date through several channels. The public can follow St. Johns County Emergency Management and the Florida Forest Service on Facebook and sign up for the Alert St. Johns emergency notification system through the Emergency Management webpage. Officials advise residents to ensure their notification settings allow alerts at all times.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue and Emergency Management officials will continue to monitor conditions daily and coordinate with state and regional partners.