OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – As drought conditions continue in Central Florida, residents are urged to exercise caution regarding outdoor burning as the region remains dry.
In some places, like the unincorporated areas of Osceola County, a burn ban is now in effect.
[Watch video below to hear from officials, see recent brush fires]
“We have been experiencing some extended periods of dry conditions,” said Joshua Holder, public information officer for Osceola County Fire Rescue and EMS. “When we start to see those lower periods of precipitation combined with lower humidity and higher winds, that’s really the kind of holy trinity for fire weather conditions.”
[RELATED: These Central Florida counties have issued burn bans as brush fire threat remains]
Last month, a 10-acre brush fire forced the evacuation of several homes off Jupiter Drive, leaving charred trees and smoldering ground. Fire officials say the blaze ignited amid dry conditions.
This past weekend, the county issued the burn ban, prohibiting residents from burning anything outside. This includes campfires, burning waste, and setting off fireworks. According to Visit Florida, about 90% of wildfires are started by humans; the other 10% are started by lightning.
“When we have these dry conditions and the winds, those embers can escape and they can trail on into dead vegetation, which can ultimately cascade the situation out of control very quickly,” Holder explained.
[RELATED: Here’s how a drought map is made, role it plays in burn bans]
Residents are encouraged to take precautions around their homes to further reduce the risk of wildfires.
“Make sure you’re building that defensible space around your home, keeping your lawn cut, picking up dead vegetation from around your yard, trimming back those trees so they’re not touching your home. Those things can be wildfire catalysts to get the wildfire from the woods to your yard,” Holder advised.
The burn ban will remain in effect until the drought index is below a certain threshold for at least seven days.
To see the Fire Danger Index and the Keetch-Byram Drought Index, click here.
