Volusia County fires 2001
1999 fire information
1998 fire informationThe 2001 fire season started off with threatening conditions for the residents of Volusia County. Much of the prescribed burning by fire agencies and private landowners alike had been postponed due to the continued drought that had gripped much of the state since the summer of 1998. By the middle of February, the Keetch-Byram Drought Index had reached 585 and burn authorizations were being issued, as weather would allow. Sporadic rainfall improved the worsening conditions but only for a while.
On Mach 1st Volusia County Fire Services issued an order from the Director of Fire Services prohibiting all outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Volusia County. This order was issued in concert with an emergency declaration prohibiting outdoor burning that had been issued one day earlier by the Florida Department of Agriculture. These two documents made it illegal for anyone to do any type of outdoor burning except that done in a gas or charcoal grill. Enforcement of these orders was expected to be difficult with the special events on the horizon. An intense public education campaign was launched and Bike Week passed with only few minor violations and no significant wildfires.
The following week, the rains began and by March 21 all the burn bans had been lifted. In the period from March 1 - June 30 much of the County received over 15 inches of rain, and the four-year drought slowly gave way to average conditions.
Volusia County Fire Services responded to only 1 major wildland fire during the 2001 fire season. The 300-acre "Riley Pridgeon Fire" was contained on the same day it began (March 3), and mop-up operations continued for the next three days. Over 200 additional wildland fire responses were logged, but all were contained in 20 acres or less.
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Volusia County, Florida.
