JACKSON COUNTY, Fla. — A burn ban has been issued for Jackson County as well as multiple other counties just outside of the Big Bend region.
The Florida Forest Service and Chipola Forestry Center has ceased issuing authorizations for all outdoor burning until further notice for Bay, Gulf, Calhoun, and Jackson Counties.
The Florida Forest Service says critical fire weather and increasing dry conditions have created an elevated risk for wildfire potential.
Hurricane Michael caused difficult conditions for firefighters to access and suppress wildfires in the major impact zone. This combination has increased the threat to wildfire severity.
Residents in the effected counties will not have authorization to conduct any outdoor burning of “yard debris”, pile burns, and silvicultural burns. Extreme caution should be followed when conducting any campfires, outdoor cooking, and the use of legal fireworks.
Authorizations will not be issued in the effected counties until weather conditions improve.
