Latest news with #KBDI
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
County bans sale, use of some fireworks in unincorporated areas for July Fourth
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The El Paso County Commissioners Court voted on Monday, June 9 to prohibit the sale and use of some fireworks in the unincorporated areas of the County for the July Fourth season. County commissioners voted to prohibit the sale and use of fireworks classified as 'skyrockets with sticks' and 'missiles with fins,' commonly known as 'sticks and fins,' in the unincorporated areas of El Paso County. Unincorporated areas include parts of the County that are outside city limits and are not governed by municipal governments such as those of El Paso, Socorro, Horizon City, or San Elizario. El Paso County commissioners to look at possibly banning some types of fireworks 'This targeted restriction was adopted as a precautionary measure in response to ongoing extremely dry conditions across the region. According to the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI), El Paso County has reached a level of 710, which indicates elevated fire risk and meets the threshold for implementing restrictions,' the Countuy said. County officials said this is not a blanket ban on fireworks. Many types of legal fireworks remain permitted, allowing residents to continue celebrating the holiday with family and friends – safely and responsibly. 'The (Commissioners) Court acknowledges that these decisions can impact local small businesses that rely on seasonal fireworks sales, and the decision to implement restrictions was not made lightly. County officials stressed that public safety remains the top priority, but they remain mindful of the challenges that small business owners face during this critical sales period,' the County said in its news release. The Commissioners Court urges residents and vendors to exercise caution and good judgment during the Fourth of July season, emphasizing that personal responsibility is key to preventing dangerous fire incidents and protecting the community, the County said in its news release. 'This includes keeping our neighborhoods free of debris and trash that may accumulate during the 4th of July festivities,' the County said in its news release. The legal fireworks sale period is June 24 through midnight on July Fourth. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Burn ban lifted in Orange County
Orange County has joined multiple other counties in lifting its recent outdoor burn ban. The lifted ban was for unincorporated areas and any municipalities that Orange County Fire Rescue services, including Edgewood, Belle Isle, Oakland and Eatonville. Burn bans are automatically instituted under Orange County's Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance when the Keetch-Byram Drought Index meets or exceeds 500. The recent rainfall helped push the KBDI average below 500 for the seventh consecutive day, allowing the burn ban's cancelation. While recreational open burning may now resume, officials encourage safety and always having an ability to extinguish any fire that are started. For more information on what burning is allowed in Orange County, visit the Orange County Environmental Protection Division's website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Flagler County enacts burn ban as dry conditions, low rainfall totals persist
One week after Volusia County enacted a burn ban due to continued dry weather and lack of rain, Flagler County officials decided April 23 to do the same. The ban went into effect at 5 p.m. along with a state of local emergency declaration. The measure will be in effect for the next seven days, according to county spokeswoman Julie Murphy. The lack of rainfall and dry weather that prompted the county to adopt the burn ban Wednesday serves as an opportunity for officials to remind residents of what they can do to prevent recent weather conditions from leading to accidental fires that can break out on their property and potentially spread to surrounding areas. 'The conditions are becoming favorable for rapid fire growth so this action will help,' said Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker in a press release. 'In addition to the ban on burning, remember that a good offense is the best defense. Clear the area around your house of anything that will go up in flames easily — including stacks of firewood, portable propane tanks, and dead, dry vegetation.' City of Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill spoke about the situation during a City Council workshop Tuesday night, April 22. "In the state of Florida, we've experienced some pretty extreme wildfire conditions this year so far, and in Flagler County we have been on the northern-most edge of that," Berryhill said. During a burn ban period, the county prohibits the following: "Discharge/use of fireworks, sparklers, flares or other items containing any 'explosive compound.' Open burning, including the use of fire pits and containers. Outdoor cookers and grills unless continuously attended by an adult. Throwing matches, cigarettes or other burning materials from vehicles. Parking vehicles with catalytic converters in high grassy areas." A "rule of thumb" for how residents can best approach those preventative measures, as the county's press release highlighted, "is that all flammable items within 30 feet of a structure should be removed." "Additionally, do not store things under decks or porches, and consider using rocks or gravel in those areas instead grass or mulch,' Tucker said. 'Wood-driven fires, like brushfires, create embers that can be carried quite far, and tend to find their way to the same nooks and crannies where leaves accumulate.' Homeowners should "clear roofs, eaves, gutters, wood decks and patios of leaves," according to the county. "Please take this burn ban seriously,' Tucker added. 'It's been about a year since we've had one in Flagler County, so please heed our warnings.' One of the factors that also contributed to the county's decision was the Keetch Byram Drought Index (KBDI) mean level for Flagler County, which was expected to exceed 500 by Wednesday night. The KBDI is "a continuous reference scale for estimating the dryness of the soil and duff layers," according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. It is measured in a range from zero to 800 in which zero is the wettest condition and 800 is the driest, or drought. "We are at 489 today," Berryhill said at Tuesday's meeting. The fire chief emphasized the important role residents can play in preventing accidental fires. The department, he said, is in touch with the city's utility department "to ensure that we have an adequate water supply to protect our citizens." "We're not in the mode to where we need to be alarmed today, but we are in a great time for us to ensure that our plan is prepared," Berryhill said. Rainfall amounts have been 4.36 inches below normal for this time of year in Flagler County, according to the National Integrated Drought Information System. The total amount this year so far is around 5.9 inches, according to Bob Pickering, county emergency management specialist. The National Weather Service forecast calls for sunny and partly cloudy skies through the rest of the week in Flagler County, though slight 20-30% rain chances are expected between Sunday and Monday. According to Danny Dubois, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Jacksonville, a change of rain patterns as Florida transitions between spring and summer seasons usually happens by the end of May. "In the Climate Prediction Center's 8-14-day outlook, beyond what we forecast for, there is a slightly leaning above chance for higher precipitation than normal," Dubois said. "So end of the month into early May we might see a little bit of a shift." Even though that might apply more to northeast Florida, the change of pattern means rain season is coming soon next month, he added. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Burn ban enacted in Flagler to protect against dry conditions
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
County-wide burn ban issued in Brevard
Ongoing dry weather conditions in Brevard County increase the risk of wildfires, prompting the implementation of a ban. Brevard County has banned open burning, such as bonfires, campfires, trash burning and other incineration. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) now exceeds 500 (out of a scale of 800), due to the dry conditions and little rain in the forecast. This burn ban will go into immediate effect throughout Brevard County. The burn ban does not include state-permitted burns, the use of barbecue grills, authorized public fireworks displays and fireworks sales, which are authorized by state law. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Orange County issues burn ban as drought conditions worsen
ORLANDO, Fla. - Orange County officials have issued a burn ban for unincorporated areas and several municipalities as drought conditions continue to intensify, officials announced Wednesday. What we know The ban applies to areas served by Orange County Fire Rescue, including: Edgewood Belle Isle Oakland Eatonville The restriction was triggered automatically under the county's Fire Prevention and Protection Ordinance after the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) reached 500, a threshold that signals increased wildfire risk. The ban prohibits all outdoor burning without a permit, including: Recreational fires Bonfires Outdoor fireplaces Burning of yard debris or trash However, state-authorized burns and the use of outdoor grills or pits defined under Section 18-4 of the county code are exempt. Violators may face enforcement actions, including citations, and any unauthorized fires will be extinguished. The ban will remain in place until the drought index stays below 500 for seven consecutive days. What you can do Orange County Fire Rescue is urging residents to take proactive steps to reduce fire risks, such as creating defensible space around their homes, clearing debris from roofs and gutters, and staying alert to changing conditions. Residents are also encouraged to download the OCFL Alert app for real-time emergency updates. STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 35 ORLANDO: Download the FOX Local app for breaking news alerts, the latest news headlines Download the FOX 35 Storm Team Weather app for weather alerts & radar Sign up for FOX 35's daily newsletter for the latest morning headlines FOX Local: Stream FOX 35 newscasts, FOX 35 News+, Central Florida Eats on your smart TV The Source The information in this article comes from the Orange County Government's Office of Communications.
