In light of extended dry conditions, Osceola County is instituting a burn ban for all types of outside burning, including open fire pits, campfires, and yard debris within the unincorporated areas of Osceola County.
A similar ban was in place from mid-February to early March, considered part of the "dry season" for Central Florida.
The county's Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) figure is now 514 on the 1-800 scale with higher numbers representing dryer areas. A number of 500 is generally the benchmark for county-wide burn bans. While the more populated area of northwestern Osceola has a lower local reading meaning lower danger, the southern part of the county is much drier.
The burn ban is effective immediately and will be lifted as weather and vegetation conditions improve. The ban will be enforced by Osceola County Code Enforcement, Law Enforcement and Emergency Services personnel.
Osceola County Fire Rescue & EMS says it will continue to monitor conditions to determine when the burn ban will be lifted. Once the ban is lifted, another notice will be distributed, along with updates to www.osceola.org and at http://fire.osceola.org.
