An outdoor burning ban was ordered in Sumter County and a state of emergency declared Tuesday by the Board of County Commissioners due to drought conditions.
Due to the possibility of forest and brush fires, all outdoor burning and fireworks are prohibited except for controlled burning or other fire prevention efforts by the Florida Forest Service or another state agency.
The ban applies to burning in barrels or screened containers and burning of debris piles for both commercial and residential uses.
Violating the ban could result in criminal prosecution.
The National Weather Service has issued red flag warnings over the past few days for The Villages and Sumter County, which means that critical fire weather conditions are present or occurring shortly. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and warm temperatures can contribute to the fire danger.
With more than 125 wildfires burning across Florida, officials say the state is suffering its worse wildfire season in years.
Two weeks ago, smoke from wildfires drifted into a portion of The Villages, causing eye irritation and an overpowering smell for a few hours.
The Keetch-Bryam Drought Index, a measurement of drought conditions, reached 505 on a scale of 0 to 800 in late April for Sumter County and is increasing five to 10 points per day.
“During these dry conditions, the activity of outdoor burning or use of fireworks can easily transmit embers into dry grass which can quickly spread into a rapidly moving wildlife,” stated a report prepared by county Fire Chief Leland Greek. “To reduce the threat of escaping fires which could result in a threat to public safety, staff recommends the declaration of a state of local emergency in Sumter County Florida, and adoption of rules to prohibit all burning and fireworks until further notice.”
Ending the ban requires a county board vote.