Florida bans burning as extreme drought conditions worsen

[Pastor Dale Morgan]

*Perilous Times and Global Warming

Florida bans burning as extreme drought conditions worsen*

By Gary Taylor, Orlando Sentinel

12:33 PM EST, November 20, 2009

Volusia is apparently the first county in the state to enact a ban on
outdoor burning as drought conditions throughout the peninsula of
Florida begin to worsen.

That ban in Volusia, which includes all unincorporated areas of the
county as well as the cities of Oak Hill, Lake Helen and Pierson, goes
into effect at 12:01 a.m. Saturday.

Burn bans are a "county-by-county decision," said Gerry LaCavera,
wildfire mitigation coordinator with the state Division of Forestry.

Dryness in the state is measured by the Ketch Byram Drought Index, which
is a scale of 1 to 800.

Anytime an area climbs above 500 on the scale, it is a concern, LaCavera
said. When an area climbs above 600 "that causes more concern," he said.
"There's more probability that wildfires can start given the dry
conditions."

The average index rating in both Volusia and Seminole counties is 607
and in Brevard it is 616. But there are isolated areas within the
counties where the index rating exceeds 700.

Other Central Florida counties are above 500 on the scale. Osceola is
570, Orange is 564, Lake is 560 and Polk is 532.

Even though Seminole is at the same drought index as Volusia, there are
no plans for a burn ban at this point, Fire Lt. Paula Ritchey said.
Seminole has not had a problem with wildfires this fall, she said. She
also pointed out that Volusia has much more forest land than Seminole.

"We're monitoring it daily," Ritchey said.

Forestry officials had not expected it to be so dry right now, LaCavera
said.

"This is not what we had forecast," he said. "We were supposed to see
more above-normal rainfall."

It was very dry in the fall last year, he said, but problems with
wildfires did not develop until the spring. There have been no large
wildfires so far this fall, he said.

Under the Volusia burning ban, all burning is prohibited unless
authorized by the state Division of Forestry, county spokeswoman Pat
Kuehn said. The ban includes burning of yard trash, household paper
products, bonfires, campfires, warming fires and cooking fires, she
said. Outdoor cooking done with a contained gas or charcoal grill is the
only exception.

Violations of the ban are punishable by a fine up to $500 and/or up to
60 days in the county jail.

"Fire officials also are urging the public to be cautious with outdoor
activities, especially with the upcoming holiday season," Kuehn said.
"Activities such as the use of ATVs, welding equipment, mowers and the
improper disposal of cigarette butts can spark a wildfire."


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