Nassau County Enacts Emergency, Burn Ban Amid Hilliard Drought

The Nassau County Board of County Commissioners approved Resolution 2026-080 during its April 15 meeting, declaring a local state of emergency and enacting a countywide burn ban in response to extreme drought and elevated fire danger, according to the Town of Hilliard's official website. The resolution prohibits all outdoor burning effective immediately, with exceptions only for permits issued by the Florida Forest Service and attended barbecue cooking. Nassau County Fire Rescue Chief Brady Rigdon warned commissioners of deteriorating conditions and fast-moving fire risks, as reported in primary county documents posted at townofhilliard.com. Hilliard residents at 15859 West County Road 108, the town's emergency operations address, are under Phase II Severe Water Shortage restrictions from the St. Johns River Water Management District, declared March 13. Outdoor watering is limited to one hour per zone once weekly: odd-numbered addresses on Saturdays, even on Sundays, and businesses on Tuesdays. No watering is allowed between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., and aesthetic uses like fountains are banned across all water sources, including private wells, per the town's posted schedule. An ongoing wildfire near Hilliard heightens urgency, with the county 14+ inches behind on rainfall. Officials urge residents to report smoke immediately via 904-845-3555. The emergency lasts seven days initially, with commissioners scheduled to revisit at a special April 22 meeting at 9 a.m. to consider extensions. These measures align with Florida's statewide emergency preparedness amid a tropical depression threatening the Gulf Coast and National Guard activations for storm response. While urban areas grapple with violence spikes, Nassau's focus on drought resilience supports the state's recovery narrative, as Hilliard maintains economic stability without direct impacts from distant incidents like the Miami boat explosion.