FLAGLER COUNTY, Fla. – Flagler County will undergo a week-long burn ban due to dry conditions and the threat of brush fires.
The burn ban was put in place Friday evening and will remain in effect for seven days, according to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office.
A brush fire of some 170 acres ripped through dry vegetation near Bunnell on Wednesday, prompting county officials to urge evacuations before lifting that request Thursday morning when the fire was 80% contained.
“The conditions have become favorable for rapid fire growth so this action will help reduce our community’s risk,” Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker said in a statement. “In addition to the ban on burning, remember that a good offense is the best defense. Clear the area around your house of anything that will go up in flames easily – including stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks, and dead, dry vegetation.”
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Per the county, the following is prohibited during the burn ban:
- Use, ignition, or discharge of fireworks, sparklers, flares, or other items containing any “explosive compound.”
- Open burning, including campfires, fire pits, and similar containers.
- Throwing matches, cigarettes, or other burning materials from vehicles.
- Parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high-grassy areas.
“Additionally, do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead grass or mulch,” Tucker said. “Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far, and tend to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves accumulate.”
The use of outdoor cookers and grills is allowed, but only when continuously attended by an adult, the county said on social media.
Learn more about burn-ban restrictions at Flagler County’s website.