Okaloosa County, Fla. Oct. 31, 2023–A burn ban is in effect for Okaloosa County effective immediately.

The Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners passed a local state of emergency declaration today giving it the authority to enact the ban county-wide.

After coordination with the Florida Forest Service, commissioners agreed the danger posed by the existing and forecast weather conditions that include low humidity, increased wind and a lack of precipitation justify an appropriate response in the best interest and safety of Okaloosa County residents.

“The safety of our residents is a top priority for the county,” said Okaloosa County Board Chairman Trey Goodwin. “Enacting a burn ban is a tool for us to avoid any potential harms that may come from our current weather situation and is the appropriate action to take to prevent human-caused wildfires.”

The burn ban will be in place for seven days and may be extended as necessary in seven-day increments.

This ban prohibits outdoor burning in Okaloosa County, including:

• All outdoor burning of any combustible material
• Bonfires
• Campfires
• Warming fires
• Outdoor fire places
• Chimney
• Cooking fire, unless it is exclusively within a contained, attended and monitored gas or charcoal grill

Anyone found guilty of violating the burn ban can be charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.

Upon notification of suspected burning, firefighters will respond to the scene and take immediate measures to contain and/or extinguish the fire.

Additionally, the National Weather Service has issued a fire weather watch for Okaloosa and surrounding counties. A fire weather watch means critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur.

Nick Tomecek, Okaloosa County public information officer