OKALOOSA COUNTY, Fla., April 17, 2026—Okaloosa County officials are working closely with the Florida Forest Service to monitor conditions and evaluate the need for possible burn bans.

As of April 17, there are no burn bans in effect; however, that could change.

One condition being monitored is the Keetch Byram Drought Index. The KBDI is a continuous reference scale to estimate the dryness of the soil. 

The index increases for each day without rain—tthe amount of increase depends on the daily high temperature—and decreases when it rains. The scale ranges from 0 (no moisture deficit) to 800 (high moisture deficit).

Average KBDI for the northwest Florida panhandle is 423-402 for Okaloosa, 446 for Santa Rosa and 412 for Escambia. Normal range for late spring is 261-460, according to the Florida Forest Service.

As this area continues to feel the effects of prolonged drought, the risk of wildfires steadily increases and officials are urging extreme caution for any and all outdoor burning or potentially hazardous activities.

While there are no county-issued burn bans in place at this time, residents should refrain from burning yard debris, be extremely careful with any campfires or cooking fires and be mindful when parking vehicles, ATVs, etc., in tall, grass or over leaves.

Seventy-percent of all wildfires in this area last year were human-caused and avoidable with nearly 50 percent of the causes coming from yard debris or equipment/vehicle use.

Drought conditions are not expected to dissipate in the near future and the Florida Forest Service has suspended authorizations for prescribed burning and large pile burning until further notice.

A prolonged drought results in a high KBDI and influences fire intensity largely because more fuel is available for combustion—fuels have a lower moisture content. In addition, the drying of organic material in the soil can lead to increased difficulty in fire suppression and significant smoke production.

Other weather factors, such as wind, temperature, relative humidity and atmospheric stability, play a major role in determining the actual fire danger.

Okaloosa County release