JACKSONVILLE FIRE AND RESCUE DEPARTMENT ISSUES BURN BAN EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY
The City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department are issuing a burn ban effective immediately due to dangerous wildfire conditions across the region. The ban prohibits all open burning within the Duval County limits until further notice. Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II is invoking his authority under Jacksonville Municipal Code Section 420.202(e) to prohibit all bonfires and open burning in Duval County effective immediately. Current weather conditions present an elevated risk to life and property.
The National Weather Service has issued a Red Flag Warning for the Duval County area today. Our region is also in the grip of a historic drought, with Jacksonville experiencing the dryest period on record since 1872. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) is currently reading 594 out of a possible 800. The KBDI measures how dry vegetation and soil have become. At 594, fuels across the landscape are critically dry and can ignite easily. Combined with low humidity and wind, conditions are as dangerous as they get.
“JFRD is ready,” said Director/Fire Chief Percy Golden II. “Our crews are trained, our equipment is staged, and we are monitoring conditions closely. What we need right now is for our community to do its part. One spark in this environment can become a crisis very quickly.”
Mayor Donna Deegan echoed that call. “This is a straightforward ask. Don’t burn. It’s the best thing residents can do right now to protect their family, their neighbors, and the firefighters who are working hard to keep Jacksonville safe.
In response to the worsening drought, the Duval County Emergency Operations Center has moved to a Level 2, partial activation, allowing personnel to focus on the fire danger and coordinate resources if needed.
“We’re not waiting for a large fire. We’ve been taking this seriously,” said Andre Ayoub, Chief of the City of Jacksonville Emergency Preparedness Division. “We are coordinating with stakeholders to ensure everyone is prepared. Now we need the public to understand the significance of this situation.”
Updates on the burn prohibition will be posted to JaxReady.com along with City of Jacksonville and JFRD official channels. Please see attached for an FAQ Sheet,
About Jacksonville Fire and Rescue The Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) serves more than 1 million residents across 840 square miles of Duval County. With 1,900 personnel operating from 68 stations, JFRD responds to over 100,000 calls for service each year, including fires, medical emergencies, hazardous materials incidents, and technical rescues. To learn more, visit myjfrd.com.