Bay County manager authorized to issue temporary burn bans
Panama City, FLA (WMBB) – Bay County Commissioners formally gave the County Manager, or their appointed designee, the ability to create a temporary burn ban when there is a high fire risk.
Currently, burn bans are issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Bay County has issued burn bans in the past, but those require the vote of the County Commission. Tuesday's action allows for quicker action banning open fires when the need arises.
Under the new ordinance, the ban would be implemented when one of four conditions are met.
Those conditions are an average county-wide drought index of 500 or more, a National Weather Service Red Flag Warning, the Florida Forest Service suspending burn authorizations, or resources being depleted due to multiple days of fire activity.
Once issued, the ban would stay in effect until the drought index 'no longer meets or exceeds 500 for 7 consecutive days, or when forecast weather conditions, in their opinion, will safely allow.'
The ordinance does allow for exceptions, including permitted fires by the Florida Forest Service, fires authorized or supervised by County or City personnel and contained fires within a monitored charcoal or gas grill.
Violators of the burn ban are subject to a fine not to exceed $500 or 60 days in the county jail.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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