In a move to curb the risk of wildfires amidst dry spells and warm temperatures, Hillsborough County officials have outstretched the emergency burn ban for another seven days.
Announced yesterday, the extension prohibits almost all types of outdoor open burning, with precise exemptions—these include barbecues under constant watch for outdoor cooking, certain controlled agricultural burns, and burns explicitly approved by the Florida Forest Service, Hillsborough County's official statement blueprint. As Hillsborough County Fire Rescue has dealt with over 169 outdoor fires since April 25, residents are urged to grasp the seriousness of this ongoing ban.
Alongside the ban's renewal, the county administrator Bonnie Wise has declared a local state of emergency banning the use of all fireworks, sparklers, and open flames that aren't contained within a grill, given that they're perpetually supervised. With the law permitting the order to span a maximum of seven days, a reevaluation will transpire should the parched conditions hold up, as per Hillsborough County's announcement.
Fire Rescue authorities caution against unapproved burns which can, aside from escalating fire hazards, leave individuals both criminally and civilly liable should they cause damage—this precaution stemming from too many occurrences where unintended "escape fires" have marred adjoining lands homes even natural expanses. In tandem with these restrictions, citizens are guided towards a litany of safety tips which include upkeeping clean surroundings, utilizing fire-resistant vegetation, and keeping flammable materials away from an abode's immediate vicinity.
While these protocols staunchly restrict open burns, agricultural plastic, a critical component for managing soil in farmlands, is still permitted to be burned under state statute on weekdays between specific hours, as long as a field supervisor is on site to oversee the operation, ensuring it happens far from any structures, according to Hillsborough County's regulations.
