HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — Citrus County and Hernando County Board of County Commissioners both issued a county-wide burn ban effective Tuesday, April 11.
County officials said the lack of rain and an increase in temperatures created conditions favorable for brush fires.
The Florida Forest Service Forecast said the current Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) for Hernando County is 573, which means the danger of brush fire is "very high."
Citrus County officials said more than 90 percent of the county is averaging over 501 on the KBDI. According to Citrus County, the KBDI index is a continuous reference scale used by the Florida Forest Service to assess the chance and severity of brush fires. A zero on the scale would be the lowest, meaning no danger, and an 800 on the scale would be the highest, meaning extreme danger.
Hernando County officials said the burn ban prohibits all outdoor burning that hasn't been permitted by the Florida Forest Service, such as, bonfires, campfires, and the burning of vegetation (yard) debris.
Residents are still allowed to cook outside on monitored barbecue equipment as long as it is a contained gas or charcoal grill.
“Citrus County Fire Rescue has waited as long as possible to issue this burn ban,” said Citrus County Fire Rescue Chief Craig Stevens. “The current dry conditions are favorable for the rapid development and spread of brush fires throughout the County. Ensuring the safety of every resident and visitor throughout Citrus County and minimizing the likeliness for loss of property countywide are top priorities for Citrus County Fire Rescue.”
The ban will be in effect until Hernando BOCC determines there are no longer emergency drought conditions or the fire chief notifies the board that the drought index has dropped below 400 in the county for at least seven consecutive days.
Citrus County didn't provide details as to when its county-wide ban would be lifted.
