The Escambia County Interim Fire Chief, in conjunction with Escambia County Emergency Management and the Florida Forestry Service, will lift the burn ban effective 6 a.m. Friday, May 29.
“We appreciate the public’s diligence during the burn ban to keep our community safe,” Interim Fire Chief Paul Williams said. “It is very important to follow the outdoor burning regulations that have been in place to prevent a fire from getting out of control. Please do not hesitate to call the fire department if you have any questions. We are happy to help.”
The Florida Forest Service will begin re-issuing burn permits on Friday, May 29. Please note: per city ordinance, open burning is not allowed within City of Pensacola limits, regardless of weather conditions or county and state burn bans. For more information about the city, please review the city’s outdoor fire ordinance.
Please remember to follow these outdoor burning regulations for Escambia County and incorporated areas:
- It is illegal to burn household garbage (including paper products), treated lumber, rubber materials, tires, pesticides, paint and aerosol containers.
- Dry (not green) vegetative debris such as grass clippings, pine straw, leaves, tree limbs and shrub trimmings can be legally burned between 8 a.m. and one hour before sunset if it is in a pile not larger than 8 ft. in diameter and located:
- 25 feet from any forested area (grasslands, brush or wildlands).
- 25 feet from your home or other combustible structure.
- 50 feet from any paved or public roadway.
- 150 feet from any occupied dwelling other than your own home.
To ensure that a backyard debris burn is really out, follow these steps:
- Drown the fire with water, turn over the ashes with a shovel and drown it again. Repeat several times until it is dead.
- Check the burn area regularly over the next several days.
- At the onset of warm, dry weather, especially when accompanied by wind, check the burn area again, even if it is weeks after the burn.
