Jacksonville Open Burning Ban During Historic Drought

The City of Jacksonville banned all open burning effective immediately as Duval County faces its driest conditions since 1872.

Fire Chief Percy Golden II invoked Jacksonville Municipal Code Section 420.202(e) to prohibit bonfires and outdoor fires throughout the county until further notice. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index stands at 594 out of 800, indicating vegetation and soil dry enough to ignite easily. The National Weather Service issued a Red Flag Warning for the county today.

"One spark in this environment can become a crisis very quickly," Golden said. "Our crews are trained and positioned. What we need is for our community to do its part."

Mayor Donna Deegan said residents should not burn. "It's the best thing you can do right now to protect your family, your neighbors, and the firefighters working to keep Jacksonville safe," she said.

The Duval County Emergency Operations Center activated to Level 2, allowing personnel to focus on fire danger and coordinate resources. Andre Ayoub, chief of the City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division, said the agency is coordinating with stakeholders and needs the public to understand the severity of the situation.

Updates on the burn prohibition will appear at JaxReady.com and on official City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department channels.