Volusia County Issues Burn Ban Beginning Friday in Unincorporated Areas and Select Cities

Posted On: February 19, 2026

Volusia County has issued an outdoor burn ban due to unusually high drought indicators. The ban, which will take effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday, Feb. 20, applies to the county’s unincorporated areas, Oak Hill, Lake Helen, and Pierson. Other incorporated municipalities may issue burn bans separately.

Under the burn ban, all outdoor burning, unless authorized by the Florida Forest Service, is prohibited. This includes burning yard trash, household paper products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires, and cooking fires. Outdoor cooking using a contained gas or charcoal grill (excluding a fire pit) is permitted under the ban.

According to Volusia County Fire Chief Joe King, the burn ban is necessary because of severe drought conditions. Volusia County’s Keetch-Byram Drought Index is 432. The drought index measures soil dryness on a scale of 1 to 800, with one indicating saturation and 800 being desert-dry.

Violations of the ban are punishable by a fine of up to $500 and/or imprisonment for up to 60 days. Under the ban, personnel from Volusia County Fire Rescue have the authority to issue violation notices to any person who violates the burn ban and to extinguish any fire not authorized by the Florida Forest Service.

Fire officials urge residents to be cautious with outdoor activities and offer these wildfire safety tips:

• Do not discard cigarettes from moving vehicles.
• Do not park a hot car or operate all-terrain vehicles on dry grass.
• Check lawnmowers and farm equipment to ensure spark arresters are properly functioning.
• Extinguish cooking fires when outdoors, and never leave them unattended.
• Allow a 30-foot buffer of non-combustible material around your home.
• Clean the roof and gutters regularly.
• Teach family members how to use a fire extinguisher. Test smoke detectors regularly.
• Rake leaves, dead limbs, and twigs. Clear flammable vegetation.
• Have a garden hose long enough to reach any area of your home and property.

The burn ban will remain in effect until drought conditions improve and wildfire risk decreases. Volusia County will announce when conditions allow the ban to be lifted.