JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Wednesday, June 3, the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department lifted the recent burn ban, after talking with local officials with the National Weather Service, Florida Forest Service, and the Emergency Preparedness Division.
But Duval County has a year-round burn ban that remains in place (scroll down for more info).
So what was the emergency ban, and what does it mean now that it’s lifted?
The emergency burn ban was put into effect on April 21 by the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department due to the Extreme to Exceptional drought that has gripped the region since September.
The April burn ban prohibited all open burning, including bonfires. This ban allowed JFRD and the Duval County Emergency Operations Center to move into a Level 2 partial activation to allow personnel to focus on the fire danger and have quick response measures in place.
The emergency burn ban was initiated due to Red Flag Warnings, which are issued by the National Weather Service when warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger.
Additionally, our region continues to be under a historic drought, experiencing the driest conditions since 1872.
What changed?
Much-needed rainfall helped. In May, Jacksonville International Airport received 8.09 inches of rain. The normal monthly total average is 3.42 inches.
During May, two days received over 2 inches: May 29 and May 31. While other counties in the region saw higher rainfall totals, the airport totals are considered “official” when measuring our region.
If conditions worsen again, there’s a chance the emergency burn ban could be initiated again.
For now, though, as we enter June and July and as the tropical season heats up, the opportunity for daily rainfall totals to increase will help.
“Conditions have improved enough in Duval County that lifting the burn ban is the right call,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “We made the decision carefully, in consultation with our partners at the National Weather Service, Florida Forest Service, and Emergency Preparedness Division. The recent rain has helped, and we expect that trend to continue. We know the drought conditions have not disappeared, and JFRD is still paying close attention.”
Duval County always has a burn ban
According to Jacksonville Municipal Code Section 420.201:
Outdoor burning is prohibited without a permit in Duval County. This is the law year-round, not just during dry conditions.
Only very limited activities are allowed without a permit: small campfires for recreation, cooking fires for outdoor food preparation, and warming fires for outdoor workers. These fires must not produce excessive smoke.
So that means if you want to burn yard debris or anything beyond a fire pit or a cookout, you need to get permission from the city first.
That rule hasn’t changed, even with the lifting of the emergency burn ban.
Call 904-255-3286 for more information.