TAMPA – Hillsborough County extended an emergency burn ban March 12 on all outdoor open burning in all areas of the county for the ninth consecutive week.
The overall dry conditions continue to increase the danger of wildfires in Hillsborough County with drought conditions expected to remain high to very high in March. Since the beginning of January, 1,249 forest and brush fires throughout the state have burned over 77,162 acres.
The only exceptions to the emergency burn ban are a constantly attended barbecue grill for outdoor cooking, certain agricultural enterprises in eastern and southern Hillsborough County that can dispose of agricultural plastic through controlled burns and burning that has been specifically allowed by the Florida Forest Service.
County Administrator Bonnie Wise signed the Executive Order on March 12. Under the order:
- A local state of emergency is declared.
- All outdoor open burning is prohibited.
- The order bans fireworks, sparklers and fire pits.
- Outdoor grilling is allowed, as long as the flames are contained within a grill and the fire is constantly attended.
By law, the order can be in effect for no more than seven days. If conditions persist, the order can be extended.
Safety Tips
Hillsborough County offers some safety tips to prevent fires:
- Remove fuels that can lead flames to your home or that can be ignited by windblown embers.
- Clear away dead grass, leaves, twigs and branches from structures, roofs, rain gutters, decks and walkways.
- Store firewood at least 30 feet from occupied structures.
- Plant landscaping that retains moisture and resists ignition, such as native, fire-resistant vegetation.
- Help emergency responders find your home faster by making sure that street numbers are easy to read.
- Know where the closest firefighting water source is to your home or building.
- Dispose of cigarette butts properly.
- Pick up light-refracting metal items, such as soda cans, that can spark a fire.
- Don’t park vehicles over high grass that could come into contact with hot engines and other components.
Burning Agricultural Plastic
Agricultural plastic is used to suppress weed growth and help retain soil moisture.
It is crucial for farming operations to dispose of the plastic from the most recent growing season to meet critical timeframes for the next season. Burning of agricultural plastic is the accepted means of disposal under state statute and is allowed on weekdays between 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Farmers are required to always have a field supervisor on-site during the burning.
Burning agricultural plastic does not create embers that could ignite fires elsewhere. However, as a precaution, burning may take place only in open fields and not near any structures.
Stay updated
Visit HCFL.gov/HCFLAlert to sign up for Hillsborough County’s official public notification system to receive text or email updates related to the burn ban.
