Hillsborough County has extended an emergency burn ban on all open burning, marking the fourth consecutive week this measure has been in place. The decision, announced by County Administrator Bonnie Wise through an Executive Order signed yesterday, adheres to safety concerns due to continued dry conditions that pose a heightened risk of wildfires across the county.
While the region has experienced some rainfall and chillier temperatures, it has not been sufficient to alleviate the risk entirely. Recent stats reveal a worrying trend with 411 forest and brush fires scorching over 11,483 acres in the state since the beginning of January, according to HCFL Government Newsroom.
The burn ban includes a prohibition on fireworks, sparklers, and fire pits under the executive order, but it will allow certain exceptions like a constantly attended barbecue grill for outdoor cooking and specific agricultural activities. Controlled burns for disposing of agricultural plastic remain permissible on weekdays between specific hours, as they reportedly do not produce embers that could spark additional fires.
In the wake of the ban, residents are advised to follow safety tips to prevent the outbreak of fires: Clearing potentially flammable materials away from homes, planting fire-resistant vegetation, and disposing of cigarette butts correctly. These precautions form part of a larger strategy shared by the county to combat the risk of fires, with details provided in the official announcement.
By law, the order can only be in effect for a maximum of seven days but can be extended if the dry conditions persist. For continued updates on the burn ban, residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up for HCFL Alert, Hillsborough County's public notification system, at HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert.
