Polk County fire officials issued a countywide burn ban on Tuesday, citing a high risk of brush fires and uncontrolled fires.
Lakeland and the surrounding areas got a welcome rain shower Tuesday, but it was not nearly enough to make up for weeks of dry weather, according to Polk County Fire Rescue Fire Chief Hezedean A. Smith.
Smith said the county held off issuing the ban as long as possible, but “currently 75% of the ground throughout Polk County is dry. So ultimately we would have to have rain for several days consecutively to penetrate that dry ground.”
What is banned: The burn ban prohibits campfires, bonfires, controlled burns and fireworks. Burning trash is always illegal in the city of Lakeland but, while the ban is in effect, it is prohibited everywhere else in the county too.
Drought conditions: Currently, Polk County is averaging over 507 on the Keetch-Byram Drought Index. The KBDI is used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the likelihood and severity of brush fires. The scale considers how much moisture is in the top 8 inches of soil. It begins at zero, reflecting minimal danger, and rises to 800, reflecting extreme danger.
Central Florida only got 1.27 inches of rain in the first three weeks of May, compared with a historic average of 3.39 inches. Last spring was also very dry. Polk County was under a burn ban from Mar. 30 to June 1, 2023.
Areas under the ban: The burn ban applies to all of unincorporated Polk County and the municipalities of Lakeland, Auburndale, Bartow, Dundee, Fort Meade, Frostproof, Haines City, Lake Alfred and Winter Haven.
Penalties: Anyone who violates the burn ban can be fined up to $500 and sentenced to up to 60 days in the county jail.
latest news
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
Let’s enforce a watering restriction with fines. Our neighborhood is full of people watering their lawns to keep green grass. Let’s go for drinking water instead!!