JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville Fire and Rescue has issued an immediate burn ban for all of Duval County as dangerous wildfire conditions grip the area.
Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II invoked his authority under Jacksonville Municipal Code Section 420.202(e) to prohibit all bonfires and open burning in Duval County effective April 21. The ban remains in effect until further notice.
Recommended Videos
“JFRD is ready,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “Our crews are trained, our equipment is staged, and we are monitoring conditions closely. What we need right now is for our community to do its part. One spark in this environment can become a crisis very quickly.”
Mayor Donna Deegan reinforced the message with a direct plea to residents. “This is a straightforward ask. Don’t burn. It’s the best thing residents can do right now to protect their family, their neighbors, and the firefighters who are working hard to keep Jacksonville safe.”
Drought conditions reach historic levels
The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the Duval County area Tuesday. Jacksonville is also in the midst of what officials describe as its driest period on record since 1872.
The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) — a measure of how dry vegetation and soil have become — currently reads 594 out of a possible 800. At that level, fuels across the landscape are critically dry and can ignite easily.
Emergency Operations Center activates partial response
In response to the worsening drought, the Duval County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2 partial activation, allowing personnel to focus on fire danger and coordinate resources as needed.
“We’re not waiting for a large fire. We’ve been taking this seriously,” said Andre Ayoub, chief of the City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division. “We are coordinating with stakeholders to ensure everyone is prepared. Now we need the public to understand the significance of this situation.”
The burn ban prohibits all open burning within Duval County limits until further notice. Updates will be posted to JaxReady.com as well as the City of Jacksonville and JFRD’s official channels.