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Oct. 26, 2006
Shelley Szafraniec
Community Information Specialist

VOLUSIA COUNTY FIRE SERVICES ISSUES OUTDOOR BURN BAN

Due to ongoing dry conditions throughout Volusia County, Volusia County Fire Services has issued an outdoor burn ban for the unincorporated area of Volusia County effective Saturday, Oct. 28. The ban also applies to the cities of DeBary, Pierson, Oak Hill and Lake Helen.

Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry, is prohibited. This includes the burning of yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is the only exception.

According to James Tauber, Volusia County Fire Services director, the ban is necessary due to continued prolonged periods with no significant rain, the drying out of vegetation, low humidity, and daily above-normal wind conditions.

“Unfortunately we have had a very dry year,” said Tauber. “Now we are starting to get our more typical fall weather and we do not anticipate much rainfall. This means we are starting our dry season relatively high on the drought index and we need to exercise caution. We are at 583 on the drought rating on the Keech Byram Drought Index (KBDI) and we keep steadily rising,” said Tauber.

“In some parts of the county, particularly in the central areas of the county, we are in the 700s.” (The drought index is on a scale of 1 to 800 - with one being saturation and 800 being desert dry.)

Violations of the ban are punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or imprisonment in county jail for up to 60 days. Personnel from Volusia County Fire Services will issue violation notices to any person violating the burn ban and also will extinguish any fire not authorized by the Florida Division of Forestry.

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